It also allows for computer access to large quantities of organized field data, which can form a readily accessible historical database. This allows pest population development data to be compared between and among years, for different regions of Texas. This data will be very useful for validating computer prediction models for pest population development, evaluating resistance management programs, and evaluating regional and area wide management approaches. Similar software packages are needed for other crops monitored through the Texas IPM Program.

AESRG is currently working to expand Scout Master’s functionality by 1) adding geo-referencing of the field-level scouting, 2) including additional plant data, 3) expanding the graph and tabular output options, and 4) developing a file merge utility to concatenate multiple Scout Master databases. The addition of geo-referencing to the cotton Scout Master module will provide seamless integration with the Texas Pest Management Association IPM web server.

Addition of geo-referencing will also allow for integration with future weed, nematode, and disease modules that will often require site-specific measurements. The Scout Master module for cotton and planned releases for corn, grain sorghum, wheat, and peanuts, will quickly and efficiently summarizes IPM field scouting data for electronic delivery to producers, private consultants, agribusiness, university scientists, and other agencies and organizations who use IPM information.

Examples of pop-up menus in the Cotton Scout Master program include 1) a field menu which identifies the name and location of each field, 2) a sampling field users add new records for a particular field, 3) an insect and plant-parts field where the user enters the data recorded during the field monitoring, 4) two graphics output options, one to summarize across sampling dates for individual fields, and one to summarize across fields for single data, 5) a data summary report which can be delivered by IPM Agents as tables in their newsletters, or as files that we planned to make available through the web by this coming spring, and 6) help menus that enable the users to find information using either a table of content or via a searchable index (see attached examples).