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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Southeast Watershed Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #146756
Title: SOFTWARE FOR PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE: COMPUTER MODELS AND DATABASES FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE-AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE

Author
item Wauchope, Robert - Don
item Ahuja, Lajpat
item Arnold, Jeffrey
item BIGNER, RON - USDA-ARS
item Lowrance, Robert
item Adams, Larry

Submitted to: Pest Management Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/20/2002
Publication Date: 11/20/2002
Citation: Wauchope, R.D., Ahuja, L.R., Arnold, J.G., Bigner, R., Lowrance, R.R., Adams, L.D. 2002. Software for pest management science: computer models and databases from the us department of agriculture-agricultural research service. Pest Management Science. 59:691-698(2002).

Interpretive Summary: The Journal "Pest Management Science" is published by the Society for Chemistry and Industry, a London-Headquartered International Society. Periodically the Journal devotes a single issue to a particular research institution such as a major agricultural university or pesticide corporation. ARS has been invited to be the subject of one issue (three of our scientists are members of the Editorial Board of the journal) and the National Program Staff is coordinating the development of the issue-some 20 papers will be submitted, of which this is one. The paper briefly lists ARS models and databases that are relevant to pest management science and provides a slightly expanded description of some of the major environmental model projects in ARS.

Technical Abstract: We present an overview of USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) computer models and databases related to pest management science, emphasizing current development projects in environmental risk management. ARS has a unique national interdisciplinary team of researchers in hydrology, soil and plant science, systems analysis, and pesticide science who have networked to develop empirical and mechanistic computer models describing the behavior of pests, pest responses to controls, and the environmental impact of pest control methods. Historically, much of this work has been in support of production agriculture and in support of the conservation programs of our "action agency" sister, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly the Soil Conservation Service). Because we are a public agency our software/database products are generally offered without cost, unless they are developed in cooperation with a private-sector cooperator. Because we are fundamentally a research organization, with development of new science as our highest priority, these products tend to be offered on an "as-is" basis with little follow-up user support except for cooperating R & D relationsohip with other scientists. However, rapid changes in the technology for information analysis and communication continually challenge our way of doing business.