2017 ASHS Annual Conference

Specialty crop growers make decisions on multiple aspects of plant production. These decisions may vary from which plants to grow, how to manage current resources (time, money, labor, infrastructure) to irrigation and fertilization application timing. Although growers take various types of information into account when making a decision (colleagues, extension agents, sales reps, past experience), decisions are not always made based on the best or most relevant information. If growers have access to better information, it may lead to better decisions that benefit the operation in terms of environmental health and cost and labor savings. One way to help growers make better decisions is through online tools (models) that can integrate current or future practices with research-based advice and information. Growers can input current or future practices to determine how those practices impact various aspects of production. To provide the maximum usefulness, models should be user-friendly, intuitive, and helpful to a variety of growers. All tools developed will be tested by a variety of growers prior to being made available to all. Although a number of models (i.e. dilution calculators, alkalinity calculators, economic models) exist that aid grower decision-making, the Clean WateR³ team will both site the tools in one online location (per grower feedback) and integrate them so that information (inputs, outputs) in one model can be used to populate other related models. This talk will highlight some of the models that have been developed, as well as models currently under development as part of the Clean WateR³ project.