Prepare for a safe pesticide application season by checking the FieldWatch® registry before making pesticide applications. The FieldWatch® registry provides easy-to-use, accurate, and secure online tools to enhance communications and awareness between crop producers, beekeepers, and pesticide applicators. FieldWatch® features a voluntary mapping tool through Google Maps™ that shows pesticide applicators the locations of registered sensitive crops and beehives so they can make informed decisions regarding pesticide applications. Taking the time to review what is near a field prior to applications helps prevent off-target application problems and helps commercial applicators comply with the Iowa Bee Rule.
There are several easy ways to access information on the FieldWatch® website.
- Pesticide applicators can register with FieldCheck by FieldWatch® to receive automated emails that tell them when a specialty crop field or apiary site has been newly entered in the areas the applicator designates and to locate apiaries not visible to the public. Applicators registered with FieldCheck may add additional sensitive sites (e.g. private gardens, ornamentals) that may be sensitive to chemical drift but don’t meet the criteria to be listed publicly on FieldWatch®. These sites are visible only to the applicator who added them but are useful in preparing for and making pesticide applications. A 2022 blog has more information on registering with FieldCheck for applicators.
- Applicators who prefer not to register for FieldCheck can look for nearby registered sensitive crops and apiaries by clicking FieldWatch Map on the menu of the FieldCheck or DriftWatch webpages. Applicators simply need to click the state map they want to access and can search for their location and filter by specific sensitive crop types or apiaries.
- Producers can register their sensitive crops on the DriftWatch™ Specialty Crop Site Registry and beekeepers can register their hive locations on the BeeCheck™ Apiary Registry.
In addition to the FieldWatch® website, there are two mobile apps that can be used to access and input data. The FieldCheck by FieldWatch® app gives applicators easy access to specialty crop information and beehive locations from their mobile devices. The BeeCheck® app allows beekeepers to easily make changes in the location of their beehives. Both apps are available free of charge for Android and iOS devices.
| Android | FieldCheck by Fieldwatch for applicators | BeeCheck for beekeepers |
| iOS | FieldCheck by FieldWatch for applicators | BeeCheck for beekeepers |
The FieldWatch® website also includes How-to videos and additional resources for producers, beekeepers, and applicators.
Links to this article are strongly encouraged, and this article may be republished without further permission if published as written and if credit is given to the author, Integrated Crop Management News, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. If this article is to be used in any other manner, permission from the author is required. This article was originally published on March 31, 2023. The information contained within may not be the most current and accurate depending on when it is accessed.
Elizabeth Danielson Extension Specialist
Betsy Danielson is an extension specialist for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach in the Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP).
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