But to a Georgia farmer, the same picture could be worth much more, possibly millions of dollars. The state's Cooperative Extension office, headquartered at UGA, has waged war against the rapid spread of disease among its cherished plants and crops. A digital camera, employed by county agents to transmit images of insects and diseases to scientists through Internet technology. Thirty more cameras, along with additional microscopes and computers with imaging and communication software, will be distributed to county agents by July 1998. What we're trying to do with this project and its accompanying educational programs is to significantly control these losses.
Time is money for farmers.
Time is saved, Brown said, because of the immediacy of the digital imaging process. Furthermore, one-third of samples received were inadequate or deteriorated en route, that made accurate diagnosis nearly impossible. Scientists will also compile the visual diagnostic data and management information in an electronic education library, which will become an additional tool to help farmers and county Extension agents expeditiously identify and diagnose problems. The digital technology will especially benefit farmers who grow perishable crops, such as Vidalia onions, peaches and watermelons, Brown said. An advisory group, which includes representatives from UGA's plant and animal departments, forestry, poultry science, agricultural engineering, and crop and soils, will monitor the project's progress and make recommendations along the line.