New online platform offers 50 years of crop disease data

This interactive resource provides free access to decades of crop disease data from England and Wales. Developed using both current and historical data gathered by Defra, it will also feature pest data in the coming months.

Since 1970, 300 winter wheat and 90 winter oilseed rape samples have been collected annually, along with details on pesticide use, from randomly selected fields. These samples are assessed for signs of infestation.

With this platform, farmers can now identify trends and track crop pressures nationwide over the last fifty years. The platform also allows users to explore seasonal patterns and assess the effects of IPM decisions, such as variety selection, sowing dates, or agronomy practices.

Defra and ADAS, the organisations behind the platform, believe that by making this data accessible, it will improve pest and disease risk forecasting. The data could also inform crop breeding priorities and help evaluate the impacts of pesticide regulations and climate change.

Julie Smith, ADAS principal research scientist, said: “This is the first time since the Defra pest and disease survey began over 50 years ago that all the insightful data collected from the field is readily available.

"We want this to be a useful open resource for anybody wishing to explore and understand crop pests and disease trends, whether they are a farmer, researcher or a policy maker.” 

The Defra disease survey will continue in 2024, with this year’s winter wheat and oilseed rape data being added once it’s collected and analysed.

Ms Smith also acknowledged the crucial role of farmers who have participated in the survey: "Their contributions and continued support have meant everyone now can look back, see the bigger picture of crop pest and disease emergence, and find new ways to build our national resilience to crop disease and pest threats."

Pest and disease survey website: www.pestanddiseasesurvey.co.uk/platform