The IPM Toolkit app is available to users for free for iPhones and iPads. This app is brought to you by the University of Wisconsin’s Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program.
Check out this application: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ipm-toolkit/id504685615?mt=8
Mobile device and internet use is changing how global and local agriculture operate and expand their businesses. Growers in Wisconsin, like the rest of the world, are increasing their use of smartphones and other handheld devices for communication and information management on their farms. A key to agriculture’s continued success is incorporating information from an unbiased science and research-based source. Practicing IPM is a sustainable approach that helps farmers maximize the use of pest prevention, avoidance, monitoring and suppression strategies, minimizing economic, health, and environmental risks.
The staff of the University of Wisconsin IPM program has developed the IPM Toolkit app designed for smartphones and tablets. This app allows a user to read IPM related news articles, view videos, download publications, and access pictures to aid in adapting IPM practices to their agricultural operations.
Features:
- a news reader for the Wisconsin IPM and Crop Manager blog and UWEX specialist Twitter feeds
- a video browser with access via YouTube to dozens of short educational clips made by UWEX specialists
- a small but expandable publication library of IPM materials that have been developed by the UWEX IPM program. The list contains PDF documents and some ePub books. All of the files can be saved in iBooks or other compatible apps for offline use.
- a picture browser designed to aid in IPM field observations and scouting. The picture database has over 175,000 images available and is hosted by IPMimages.org
What’s New?
- The “Pictures” tab has been redesigned to download images from the IPMimages.org database that has over 175,000 pictures available. Use the search bar to find the ones you want and then save your favorites.
- The graphics and video playback have been improved.
The app comes with a “featured collection” of pictures already saved in the “favorites” area where you can save your own favorite searches. When you tap in the search input box, you type in the common or scientific name for a pest of interest to you. You may search using a partial name by typing in at least three letters and tapping “Search” on the keyboard. The app will return a list of suggestions based on your search letters. Tap one of the suggestions to see a list of thumbnail images based on that subject. Tap a thumbnail to see a full screen image. An “HD” button will be active for a higher resolution version of the image. You can copy, save or email images. Tap “Save” to add this collection to your list of saved searches. To view your list of saved searches, tap “cancel” next to the search input to indicate you are finished typing in search words. The featured collection and any searches you saved are now in the list, which you can edit or email.
For additional information or answers to questions, contact Roger Schmidt or Bryan Jensen at http://ipcm.wisc.edu/contacts
