Disease Intelligence and its Role In Disease Forecasting1

Disease intelligence information is received at Bristol by telex from plant pathologists in all regions of England and Wales. Weather information recorded at synoptic stations throughout the country is fed into the Meteorological Office computer at Bracknell, and from given parameters daily forecasts are issued for a number of diseases including apple scab, potato blight, barley mildew, barley leaf blotch, wheat septoria and wheat eyespot. All this information is collated, printed and distributed widely to plant pathologists in the advisory services, research establishments and various sections of commercial manufacturing and sales organisations. The report is broadcast on BBC radio, featured on teletext (BBC Ceefax), viewdata (Prestel) and Telephone Information Services (TIS), and published in a number of national and regional agricultural journals. Disease intelligence information aids in the interpretation of disease forecasts and equally disease forecasts aid in advising on the need for pesticide application.