Agronomic Services - Agronomist Field Surveys

Data collection is where Total Grower Services started. Initially data was collected on Sigatoka levels of banana. This was used to determine fungicide requirement. While the company has developed well past its simple pest scout beginnings, field surveys remain a critical component of the business. Data collection expanded to include insect and mite pests.

EnviroScan soil moisture monitoring, soil and tissue testing and interpretation became part of the surveys in 1996. It was the collection of data pertaining to all aspects of production which enabled correlation and subsequent plant health and productivity breakthroughs. All field data collected is now entered into the TGS database. The thousands of soil and leaf tests give TGS unparalleled access to data correlation across previously unrelated disciplines. Field surveys remain an integral part of our crop production system and are most commonly applied to Banana, Papaya and Cucurbit crops.

Since we have reduced fungicide program the cost savings resulting from the system are significant. Fungicide costs within our client base are on average around one quarter of the industry standard. We generally do use some chemical through the wet season when we have very little control over the soil chemistry and as a result do sometimes see increases in disease.

Following surveys, reports are supplied to growers within 24 hrs. These are highly detailed and include information on the major disease and insect pest levels. Over time these are combined into trend charts which include a average score from our database allowing clients to rank themselves within the industry.