Smith and other scientists are working to automate insect and disease models. Smith urges orchardists to rely on PAWS for weather data. Many now rely on their own measurements, but therein lie many problems. If not, the models may not be accurate. Smith's use of PAWS data paid off big this spring for many Washington pear producers, by helping prevent fire blight infestations.
Fire blight is the worst disease that can hit pear trees.
It is a bacterial disease that occurs when abnormally warm weather during bloom is followed by rain, or even a heavy dew. Heavily damaged trees must be severely pruned or even destroyed. A grower can lose an entire orchard. The only way to avoid infections is to spray just before or just after it rains. Computer models are taking a lot of guess work out of spraying decisions.