The article was printed on the
Pennsylvania IPM Program Web Site
Fruit growers and field crop growers across the country are discovering "eSpray
,
Spray Management system", a computerized pesticide record-keeping program for
growers who want a simpler, cost-effective way to comply with pesticide
regulations.
Tom Garretson, owner of eSpray,
LLC, developed the system after seeing growers struggling to report their
pesticide sprays after the Worker Protection Standards were implemented
nationwide in 1992. "I had been working for chemical distributors for the
previous 10 years, writing spray programs and making pesticide recommendations
to growers. I saw the problems they were dealing with and took it from there,"
says Garretson. Now Garretson spends his time working on eSpray
in addition to consulting with fruit growers in Adams County. Lately he's also
been working with Penn State on the Plum PoxVirus situation that is affecting
growers of stone fruit in his area.
Growers along the East Coast and as faraway as Oregon and Florida are now using
Garretson's eSpray program.
While initially developed for fruit growers, the program will help anyone where
pesticide record keeping and regulations are a concern. Growers can download
the program online from the eSpray
WebSite and simply input their information to begin. To make setup easy eSpray
comes with an extensive chemical database. This database is routinely updated
and is available for download. Garretson also posts program updates on the
WebSite, so it remains current with changing laws and requirements. Convenient
links to other sites of grower interest are also provided.
Garretson is always looking at ways to improve the system and reveals a new
version of the program is slated for release in January. One of the advanced
features will be the ability to calculate Tree Row Volume (TRV). Growers will
be able to record different amounts of pesticide use per acre, depending on the
size of the trees in that acre. "This will accurately give growers a report of
how much pesticide they are actually spraying. In many cases, growers are
actually using less than they think," says Garretson.
Garretson enjoys his work through eSpray
and his consulting because he helps growers overcome challenges and grow better
crops. "The eSpray program is
basically a database that helps growers find pesticide information and track
their usage," Garretson explains. The program lists chemical information such
as the manufacturer's name, the active ingredients, EPA registration number,
and personal protection equipment requirements (PPE). The program is unique in
that it will list the PPE requirements for spray events using more than one
product. "It saves the grower a lot of time, it takes only about a minute for a
grower to enter information about a spray event. After that eSpray
will generate the required reports," says Garretson.
eSpray will also report to the
grower the cost of pesticide sprays. The grower also has access to printable
reports such as a processor spray record, application instruction sheet, a
chemical use summary, pesticide application record, and a Worker Protection
Standard report, which is required by law. This gives the grower re-entry
dates, or the amount of time workers must stay out of the field after a spray.
The program can also record weather data and weather reports.
Garretson is working on making the program more user-friendly and able to meet
more of grower needs. His plans for a future version include partnering with
SkyBit, Inc. of Bellefonte, PA to incorporate more weather data into the
program. The weather data would include extensive weather reporting with
growing degree-days. Garretson also wants to include Global Positioning System
(GPS) mapping so growers can look at maps of their farm and keep better track
of field data, thus making better management decisions.
Garretson is in the process of upgrading his web site to make it more
interactive. "By the fall of 2000 you'll be able to fill out forms online and
receive product updates by email. I'm also planning on a free classifieds
section for growers, which will enable anyone to post their own ad," Garretson
says.
Garretson has BS in Horticulture from Penn State and years of on the job
training. He was raised on an orchard in Adams County, Pennsylvania that got
him interested in the issues that tree fruit growers face. For more information
on eSpray, go to web site
http://localhost/eSpray/index.html.
