The Gleed station became operational in June 1994. Area orchardists' main interest in having their own PAWS station was for data to help them make frost protection decisions and to more accurately predict scab, blight and codling moth infection periods. When time is critical, as it often is in orchard management, Fossum says Gleed area growers now can call up PAWS data on the Internet. I think it pays off because it gives the growers who wish to access it, real-time information, said Fossum. Within minutes you can decide to roll the sprayers or not roll the sprayers.
Big bucks hang on the decision.
Saving an unnecessary spray is good for the bottom line, both at the bank and in the environment, but saving a crop or trees from damage by making a critical spraying is just as important, if not even more critical. Although current conditions can be still can be accessed free by voice phone, Fossum prefers the Internet because it's a local telephone call and he can access the system's historical data banks and import it into his spreadsheet. A field man may visit an orchard every 14 days. PAWS data is updated every 15 minutes and is available whenever an orchardist needs it, and at a time that is convenient to him. I hope that WSU is financially able to keep it going.