Other Activities
Project evaluation
The workgroup has supported project evaluation activities, such as a pilot survey instrument for the rice BIFS project. The surveys are designed to elicit information about growers' on-farm practices, their attitudes about conventional and alternative practices, and their priority issues for industry and university research. Surveys of walnut and rice growers have been completed; surveys of dairy and prune growers are under development. Pesticide use reporting analysis for BIFS projects has also been partially funded by the BIFS Workgroup.
Commodity-specific project management databases
The workgroup has organized database training and support for the creation of commodity-specific databases to handle pest and beneficial species monitoring data and agricultural chemical data. The purpose of the databases is to increase the efficiency of intensive monitoring and reporting activities by Field Scouts and Pest Control Advisors using biologically integrated farming methods.