Mission Statement

The WSU Decision Aid System (DAS) is a premier source of time-sensitive information to guide crop management. We collaborate with scientists and outreach specialists to integrate weather data, monitoring data, models, and management information that will assist producers make the most effective decisions and remain competitive in the world economy.

Strategic Vision

The development of DAS is guided by four goals and principles:

1. Implement science-based tools that help with management of time-sensitive problems in entomology, plant pathology, horticulture, soil science, and other areas.
2. Use technology to simplify and expand our ability to provide information in a broad range of areas to decision-makers in multiple crop industries.
3. Create web and smartphone-based solutions to key agricultural problems.
4. Collaborate with other WSU-DSS and researchers in the region to implement science-based tools for the transfer of time-sensitive information to decision-makers. This includes sharing tools already developed by DAS or implementing tools developed by other groups.

How It Works

Who is it for?

• Management decision makers involved in agricultural production

What does it provide?

• time-sensitive information on farm issues linked to management options
• accessibility on common smartphones and tablets (iOS and Android) and computers

How does it work?

1. sign up for an account (user fees required per weather station annually, all models included)
2. choose weather stations near your orchard location
3. choose pest and horticultural models
   • Insect models: apple maggot, Campylomma bug, codling moth, honeybee foraging, Lacanobia fruitworm, oblique-banded leafroller, oriental fruit moth, Pandemis leafroller, peach twig borer, San Jose scale, Western cherry fruit fly
   • Diseases: apple scab, fire blight, cherry powdery mildew
   • Horticultural models: blooming (Ambrosia, Cripps Pink, Gala, Red Delicious), fruit growth (Cripps Pink, Gala, Red Delicious), bloom timing (Fuji, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Jonagold)
   • Disorders: storage scald, sunburn browning of apple
4. view model outputs
   • current and forecasted status of pests or issue
   • management guidelines depending on the pest status
5. access management information from the WSU Crop Protection Guide

How DAS Was Developed

The DAS was launched in 2007 with 12 models; it now includes 40 models with more in the pipeline. For the first 7 years, DAS was supported on competitively acquired grant funds from state, federal and industry funds (sources are shown in the pie chart - none of the WSU faculty time is listed).

Grants are provided by a particular agency to further the goals of that agency that also help WSU meet our land grant mission, and we continue to seek funds to develop new models. These funds are a legal contract ensuring that WSU will meet the objectives outlined in the grants within a particular time frame (generally 1-3 years). However, these grants do not allow obligations once the granting period is over and funds are expended, making maintenance of models a constant challenge. We work closely with our partners through contracts and subscription fees to maintain the DAS platform.

The granting agencies (including the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission) made it very clear that they will not support projects that have any maintenance of DAS associated with them. Nor will they pay for the implementation of new features based on previous finished research. Therefore, alternative funding sources are needed to support the upkeep and expansion of this service.

User Fees

We have set the fees ($10.00/station) based on previous use patterns and with the goal of meeting the program's needs to both run the system and keep improving it. A flat fee was set for all users, so that everyone pays the same amount for the services they use. There will be adjustments in the future to make sure that the cost-sharing is as fair as possible while guaranteeing stable funding for the program.

Each individual making management recommendations using DAS is required to register for an account for the station(s) where management information from DAS is needed. This annual fee provides access to all models and all the synthesized data associated with the site(s).

A Tool Used By The Industry

We performed user surveys in 2008, 2010, 2013, 2022, and 2025 to estimate usage and areas where we needed to improve the system. The results showed that DAS is used by the majority of IPM decision makers in the tree fruit and potato industries in Washington State.

• Roughly 500 managers or management consultants use DAS on a regular basis on >90% of the tree fruit and potato acreage throughout the season.
• In the first three surveys, focused solely on tree fruit, users estimated that the value for DAS to the industry was roughly $16.5M/yr.
• The last two surveys indicate savings across all industries may exceed $25M per year
• Users felt that DAS clarified treatment timing, improved their overall management program, helped them choose pesticides for best efficacy, and was a trusted source of information.
• Users also reported better pest control and lower management costs averaging $60 to $80 per acre
• DAS users indicated that 81% of them shared information on DAS with others, suggesting that its impact is broader than what can be estimated by just platform users.

Testimonies By DAS Users

• "Invaluable tool which I and other consultants use daily."
• "You have done wonders. It's by far the best DSS [Decision Support System] anywhere."
• "DAS will be great for new people coming into agriculture. It has been a help to those of us near going out. Our company has an internship program for young people entering agriculture. I encourage them to use this program. When you advise to farm, you need the weather every day. Thank you!"
• "It's a great system, keep up the good work, thanks!"
• "Thanks for the great tool."