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Title: SOFTWARE FOR PEST-MANAGEMENT SCIENCE: COMPUTER MODELS AND DATABASES FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE - AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE

Author
item Wauchope, Robert - Don
item Ahuja, Lajpat
item Arnold, Jeffrey
item Bingner, Ronald - Ron
item Lowrance, Robert
item Van Genuchten, Martinus
item Adams, Larry

Submitted to: Pest Management Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/12/2002
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture has a long history of applying computer models to agricultural problems. This paper presents an overview of USDA-ARS computer models and databases related to pest-management science, emphasizing current developments in environmental risk assessment and management simulation models. The overview focuses mostly on environmental, hydrologic and soil-water models that can be used to predict water flow and the transport of agricultural and other chemicals (including nutrients, pesticides and sediment) in both surface water and the subsurface. The overview shows that ARS has a unique national interdisciplinary team of researchers in surface and sub-surface hydrology, soil and plant science, systems analysis and pesticide science, who have networked to develop empirical and mechanistic models describing the behavior of pests, pest responses to controls and the environmental impact of pest control methods. Historically, much of this work has been in support of production agriculture, and in support of the conservation programs of USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly the Soil Conservation Service). Because ARS is a public agency, the software/database products are generally offered without cost, unless they are developed in cooperation with a private-sector cooperator. Most models are offered on an 'as-is' basis with limited user support, except for cooperating R&D relationships with other scientists.

Technical Abstract: We present an overview of USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) computer models and databases related to pest-management science, emphasizing current developments in environmental risk assessment and management simulation models. The ARS has a unique national interdisciplinary team of researchers in surface and sub-surface hydrology, soil and plant science, systems analysis and pesticide science, who have networked to develop empirical and mechanistic computer models describing the behavior of pests, pest responses to controls and the environmental impact of pest control methods. Historically, much of this work has been in support of production agriculture and in support of the conservation programs of our 'action agency' sister, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly the Soil Conservation Service). Because we are a public agency, our software/database products are generally offered without cost, unless they are developed in cooperation with a private-sector cooperator. Because ARS is a basic and applied research organization, with development of new science as our highest priority, these products tend to be offered on an 'as-is' basis with limited user support except for cooperating R&D relationship with other scientists. However, rapid changes in the technology for information analysis and communication continually challenge our way of doing business.