Tools used to monitor crop development and pests vary with the crop and the pest. Basic field scouting equipment includes:
- a clipboard with field scouting forms or field pocket guide to record observations (paper or electronic format)
- field maps
- a shovel
- a pocketknife
- plastic and paper bags for collecting specimens
- a 10X hand lens and a sampling frame (e.g., hula hoop)
- a ruler
Professional scouts often carry other tools that could include:
- aerial field images
- a camera (smart phone)
- labels for identification
- reference guides
- a sweep net
- drop cloth
- vials and isopropyl alcohol
- sticky cards or traps to detect insect pests
- a global positioning systems (GPS) unit and/or fagging material to mark specific locations, etc.
When scouting, proper clothing is important for protection from the sun and from other unknown risks such as poisonous plants, ticks and mosquitoes. Be aware of recent pesticide treatments applied to the field and comply with re-entry intervals indicated on product labels.
New Tools for Field Scouting
New tools are available to increase the value of scouting and to assist in record keeping. With the adoption of smartphones and tablets, many apps are available to assist with scouting. Chosen apps should address all the information parameters of interest and integrate with other software/hardware systems on the farm. An app that isolates data on a phone or tablet offers little value. Many of the crop and whole farm management systems have developed field apps that integrate with their main programs. Many of these also take advantage of GPS capabilities, to better identify the location where problems/issues are discovered.
Another advantage of electronic devices is that, as part of the platform, they have the capability of quick access to resource materials such as field guides, measurement tools etc. This eliminates the inconvenience of carrying paper copies of field guides. Some of these tools also offer the opportunity to share observations with others. For example, insect observations can be shared so others can benefit from the mapping of occurrences, densities and spread pattern of infestations across the province. These collaborations can act as early warning systems and help target scouting activities throughout the season.
A new Ontario specific smartphone app has been developed to assist in field scouting of common pests. Pest Manager is available at the following website for all common platforms. (www.pestmanager.ca)
The function of the scouting software and/or application is to do more site-specific record keeping, as well as quantifying the extent of the issues identified in the field. In some cases, scouting software or applications may help diagnose an issue and allow someone to take management actions remotely from the field. Most electronic devices have GPS locational services that can provide the capacity to navigate back to trouble spots in the field (e.g., geotag photos).
The following is a short list of the basic functions that are found in typical field scouting software or mobile mapping apps:
- base maps and satellite imagery provided in the software or on the application for finding field locations (e.g., roads, waterways)
- map and/or mark a point, line or polygon to identify the trouble area
- calculate distance (i.e., length or width) or calculate the area affected (e.g., by weed or pest)
- geotagging photographs of trouble areas
- connect to lists and databases for crop diagnostics (e.g., weeds, disease, nutrient deficiency symptoms and photo libraries)
- order other agronomic services to diagnose or remedy the scouted issue (i.e., order soil sampling to a specific locations, place a work order for other custom application services)
- import and view (online or offline) other data, in-field device information (e.g., plant sensors) and maps (e.g., yield, previous scouting events and reports)
- semi- or fully-automated export and upload of all crop scouting data and records from the field via an internet connection (or as soon as the scout returns back to the office)
- several administrative levels for the same application, where certain tools or editing options can be turned on or of, offering large organizations the flexibility to customize services for different users (i.e., crop scout vs. manager)