Growers will be able to learn about pending crop management challenges even sooner than in the past thanks to a new system based on FieldWorker software being developed by Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. This system will be used by Pioneer agronomists to capture field-scouting observations using a handheld PC equipped with GPS receiver.

The Pioneer system utilizes handheld PCs equipped with electronic form and database software from FieldWorker Products Ltd. Using FieldWorker's Enterprise product which includes rapid application development and synchronization tools, Pioneer developed a suite of field applications and flexible forms used to collect and share crop and pest data each time a Pioneer field sales agronomist steps into a customer's field.

"We welcomed the opportunity to work with the Pioneer agronomy team, turning its unique vision into market-leading processes," says Peter Neve, president of FieldWorker. "FieldWorker's multi-lingual capabilities and Internet functionality has allowed Pioneer to deploy the system as far as Brazil and throughout North America."

Information gathered by Pioneer agronomists is transmitted each night to a central database using the FieldWorker synchronization server. Within hours, reports are shared effectively and efficiently with other agronomists, sales professionals and customers to alert them to potential production challenges to look for when scouting fields. This includes input on weed and disease pressure, insect infestation, weather events and other agronomic problems.

"Pioneer agronomists see crop production issues in thousands of different fields and environments every week," says Todd Peterson, emerging technologies manager at Pioneer. "This system allows us to gather their observations into a single database on a real-time basis to put this information to work immediately."

"For instance, we may observe and identify a fungal disease in a specific geography, notify agronomists in adjacent areas to scout for the problem, track the spread of the disease, and be ready to supply growers with the very best information and treatment recommendations much sooner than we have been able to do in the past."

In its first year of widespread testing in 2002, the system was used to collect input from nearly 1,000 field service calls made by 20 participating agronomists. This information helped growers by tracking crop growth and development, disease outbreaks, and insect infestations by location across the central Corn Belt. The results were so encouraging that Pioneer is expanding the program to agronomists in other regions.

Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., a subsidiary of DuPont, is the world's leading source of customized solutions for farmers, livestock producers and grain and oilseed processors. With headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa, Pioneer provides access to advanced plant genetics, crop protection solutions and quality crop systems to customers in nearly 70 countries.

Founded in 1995, FieldWorker Products is a Canadian software firm specializing in application development tools for handheld computers. From independent, standalone use to full enterprise wide systems, FieldWorker utilizes a powerful set of tools for mobile data collection, and offers the ability to synchronize that data with the enterprise. For more information about FieldWorker, visit our Web site at www.fieldworker.com