Farmer/Sprayer/Beekeeper Collaboration
With your Southeast Regional Ag News, I am Haylie Shipp. This is the Ag Information Network.
The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) has partnered with FieldWatch®, a non-profit dedicated to enhancing communication and stewardship among beekeepers, crop producers, and pesticide applicators. This collaboration introduces FieldWatch's secure online registry to Georgia's agricultural community, helping map apiaries and crop fields for safer pesticide application practices.
Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper expressed enthusiasm about this partnership, highlighting it as another tool to ensure the success and sustainability of Georgia agriculture. "This partnership," Harper said, "promotes safe, effective, and efficient pesticide usage."
FieldWatch President and CEO Bob Walters emphasized the importance of registering beekeepers and crop producers through FieldWatch to provide accurate information before spraying. He noted that this model fosters good stewardship and communication in agriculture.
This initiative is part of Georgia's long-standing efforts to reduce pesticide drift and encourage safe pesticide usage through the Using Pesticides Wisely Program (UPW). The UPW program, in collaboration with UGA Extension, has trained over 17,000 Georgians on safe pesticide practices.
