Trac has effectively streamlined the burdensome task of recordkeeping and reporting for fruit farmers. In 2008, Trac Software was licensed by CCTEC and released for free online at www.nysipm.cornell.edu/trac. In 2008, 654 Trac Software files were downloaded by 424 farmers in NY, 31 other States and in Canada. Six Trac Software versions have been successfully developed for fruit crops commonly grown in NY, including: apple, pear, grape, tart cherry, sweet cherry, peach, nectarine, apricot, plum, strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, currant, and gooseberry. Growers using the software state that it is easy to enter and manipulate their records and reports in Trac. Trac Software provides a simple, inexpensive answer to bringing more farmers into the computer age and digitizing New York’s agricultural industry. Growers that are able to easily access computer records of pesticide and fertilizer applications and compare practices from year to year, tracking costs and harvests, will better manage their farm businesses, make more informed IPM decisions, and foster their farm’s sustainability. Those using Trac Software say it has helped their bottom line, improved their access to new markets, improved their IPM recordkeeping and reporting ability, and made recordkeeping easier. Upgrades in 2008 included revisions to the ChemTable pesticide data, the Trac Software Manual, and creation of Private Applicator Record and Restricted Pesticide Purchases report forms. Trac Turf Software programs, TracGolf, TracGrounds, TracLawn, and TracSod were developed, licensed by CCTEC and released in 2008 to 1,411 members of the New York State Turfgrass Association. In a survey of Trac Software users, 98% said they will continue using it for their recordkeeping and reporting needs. One grower praised Trac Software, saying, “Thank you for sending me notification that Trac Software was online. I wanted to let you know how good it is...I was inspected by our…Department of Ag late last summer. I passed with flying colors. Your program…is so easy to use by people who need to keep the record or workers who need to know what is going on. Thank you for making my life easier.”
impact statement issue
Farmers and green industry personnel face increasing need to produce pesticide and fertilizer application records on demand. Pesticide records are required by the Environmental Protection Agency Worker Protection Standard (EPA-WPS), the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), processors, marketers, etc., and each has a different reporting form, required either by law or to market the crop. This necessitates filling out several different forms, making recordkeeping an unnecessarily burdensome task. In an expanding and increasingly competitive global market, businesses with the ability to easily produce detailed and accurate records, including pesticide spray records, will have a competitive edge. As more consumers actively seek products and services with eco-labels, those limiting the use of pesticides, those with minimal environmental impact, or those produced under sustainable practices, the onus will be on the farmer, business, processor, and marketer to show auditors that such practices were used. Furthermore, accurate records are critically important, particularly when pest or disease control failures or severe outbreaks occur. Computerized records allow easy review of past IPM practices, in light of pest control failures or severe pest pressure.
impact statement response
Fruit farmers requested that recordkeeping software be developed to automatically generate the several pesticide spray record forms required by processors, buyers, and brokers. Funds from several sources supported software development in Microsoft Excel and TracApple, TracGrape, TracPear, TracCherry, TracStoneFruit, and TracBerry were developed and released. The software is licensed and copyrighted by Cornell University through the Cornell Center for Technology Enterprise & Commercialization (CCTEC). Pesticide registration information is updated each year in a ChemTable. Trac Software for fruit was made available online for free at www.nysipm.cornell.edu/trac. Farmers using Trac software enter their data once and can send it to various report forms for processors, buyers, and government agencies. The user simply fills in the blanks on data entry worksheets. Trac software has drop-down lists for pesticides and pests, saving time and preventing errors. The software generates drop-down lists specific to the user’s farm business. When a pesticide trade name is selected Trac automatically fills in the EPA registration number, restricted entry interval, pre-harvest interval, and calculates the earliest harvest date and the cost of the application. The software fills out an EPA-WPS Central Posting Form to inform farm workers about safe re-entry. Turfgrass managers requested similar software be developed for lawns, grounds, golf courses, and sod farms. Funds were secured to develop, license and release TracLawn, TracGrounds, TracGolf, and TracSod on a Trac Turf CD.
impact statement summary
Trac Software, an Excel-based record-keeping and reporting software program, enables easy maintenance and reporting of accurate crop protection records that are, 1) vital to a sustainable business edge, when green markets demand pesticide traceability, and 2) fundamental to IPM practices. Trac Software improves office staff efficiency, helps users avoid fines for non-compliance with pesticide use regulations, and fosters better estimation of pesticide needs for bulk purchases. For a third of users, Trac Software has improved their access to new markets. Six Trac Software programs for fruit crops are available online at www.nysipm.cornell.edu/trac. This year, 645 Trac Fruit Software files were downloaded by 424 people. 2008 upgrades included revisions to the ChemTable pesticide data, the Trac Software Manual, and creation of Private Applicator Record and Restricted Pesticide Purchases report forms. Trac Turf Software programs, TracGolf, TracGrounds, TracLawn, and TracSod, were released to 1,411 members of the New York State Turfgrass Association. Ninety-eight percent of Trac Software users continue using it for their recordkeeping and reporting needs.
