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So far in our project we have validated the proPlant decision support system for UK populations of pollen beetles.  The system uses weather data to predict the start of beetle migration (this can now be confirmed by using monitoring traps developed as part of the project available from Oecos), peaks of migration (i.e. when populations in the field will increase; risk that spray thresholds may be breached) and the completion of migration (once migration is finished, the population in your crop will never reach threshold levels if it hasn’t yet as no further beetles will come into the crop – so even if your crop is still at the damage susceptible stage there is no risk and no need for further monitoring or spraying).  We found that proPlant was extremely accurate in each of these three forecasts. 

Save time and money

Using the system will save time and focus monitoring effort to periods when it is most needed!  Using the system could also save unnecessary 'insurance' sprays…   For example if after crop monitoring the beetle population is at ~7-8 beetles/plant, a grower or advisor might decide to spray as 'tomorrow there may be 15'.  However, proPlant can tell you if conditions are good for migration in the next 3 days - or not.  If conditions are not good, then the system may give the confidence to hold off the spray until after the next visit!

Pollen Beetle forecasting tool

The proPlant forecasting tool is now available FREE from the Bayer CropScience website:

Click here to access the tool

Please help us in our impact assessment on the proPlant forecasting tool!

We would like to know how the forecasting tool has been received and how much, if at all, it has changed risk assessment, monitoring practices and spraying activity.  Please can you visit the tool as often as possible during the damage susceptible stage of your oilseed rape crop (every 2 days ideal).  You will find 3 maps available:   

a. Start migration (default map) - indicates whether pollen beetles have started to migrate this season
b. New Migration – indicates whether further migration is expected in the next 2 days
c. Percent Migration – indicates, in percentage terms, the extent of pollen beetle migration to date

You can change between the maps by clicking on the drop down menu at the top left-hand side of the screen

To find out your location, click on a region (England, Scotland or Wales) then hover your mouse over the location you are interested in. A box containing more detail will then open.

To return to your original map selection click on 'back' at the top of the screen.

As migration has already started in all areas of the UK, please pay particular attention to the 'New migration' and 'Percent migration' maps when you visit the site. 

New migration maps: green boxes indicate migration is not expected in the next 2 days so no monitoring is necessary.  Yellow boxes indicate good conditions are expected for migration in the next 2 days – monitoring your crops would be a good idea to determine population numbers.  Red boxes indicate that optimal or intensive migration is possible – crops should be monitored as soon as possible to determine whether or not spray thresholds have been breached.

Percent migration maps – yellow boxes indicate that populations in the crop are likely to increase – so use the migration maps to determine whether or not crop monitoring is necessary.  When red boxes appear in your area, migration is complete; no more beetles are expected to arrive.  If the populations in your crop have not yet reached spray threshold levels, it is very unlikely to do so – even if the crop is still at the damage susceptible stage; monitoring can cease.   

Please note: All risk predictions and forecasts published by proPlant and Bayer CropScience are provided in good faith and are NOT a substitute for rigorous field walking in combination with advice from BASIS qualified persons. Any decisions made based on the information are the responsibility of the user. proPlant GmbH, Bayer CropScience Limited and members of their respective groups accept no liability for any loss or damage resulting from the use of this oilseed rape pest risk prediction and forecasting service

If you can participate in this study, please contact Sam Cook at Rothamsted  and she will contact you later in the season with a short 'questionnaire' about how using the proPlant migration tool changed your risk assessment, monitoring practices and spraying activity. 

www: http://www.rothamsted.bbsrc.ac.uk/pie/SamCook.html