Network for Environment and Weather Applications: An Overview of the Digital Pest Management Decision Support Tool

Allan F. Pinto, Dan Olmstead, Alejandro A. Calixto and Miguel I. Gómez

Applied Economics Teaching Resources (AETR), vol. 7, issue 5

Abstract: This manuscript provides an overview of an online decision support system (DSS) developed to help growers implement integrated pest management (IPM) practices by delivering short-term risk forecasts for crop management, pest control, and disease prevention. Launched in 1995 by Cornell University’s New York State Integrated Pest Management (NYSIPM) Program, the Network for Environment and Weather Applications (NEWA) leverages local weather data from over a thousand ground-based sensors across the United States to deliver pest risk assessments for 32 models covering fruit, vegetable, ornamental, and agronomic crops. Through real-time weather data summaries, insect and plant disease models, and tailored crop tools, NEWA offers essential resources for agricultural professionals. The platform includes automated alerts for data interruptions and quality-controlled data processing to ensure reliable and timely weather inputs crucial for accurate crop and pest models. NEWA’s open-source framework allows users to customize and expand the system, making it adaptable to diverse agricultural settings. Moreover, historical climate data aids in trend analysis and long-term planning, supporting precision agriculture. The platform empowers Extension educators by providing a foundation for demonstrating sustainable and effective IPM strategies, making NEWA a vital tool for enhancing agricultural resilience and data-driven decision-making.

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