It is difficult to coordinate the timely delivery of field scouting results over thousands of square miles to provide growers with real time advice on today’s immediate pest problems and also have the advice directly tied to up to date research results. A website/email-based pest alert system was developed to notify people interested in crop production of pest outbreaks and forecasts of pest outbreaks from multiple information sources. The alert system was designed through innovative programming so that alerts would be intimately and automatically linked to extension recommendations based on field research results. The system was first utilized in the Treasure Valley of southwestern Idaho and southeastern Oregon (TVPestAlert.net) and has been expanded to additional areas in the Pacific Northwest (PNWPestAlert.net) as interest has grown. When pest outbreaks are confirmed or predicted, an email notification is immediately sent to subscribers. Links to pest management information are automatically attached to each alert. In 2006, the service had grown to 465 subscribers and 31,000 web visits. As a result of this service, 11% of subscribers were able to reduce the number of sprays applied to their crops in 2006 and 54% of all subscribers increased field scouting to document pest levels and better synchronize control measures with pest populations. This system has increased the adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices.

There are no costs to subscribers. The annual costs of the service has proved to be less than $5,000 per year and the costs have been paid by commodity commissions and grower associations.