We will measure soil-borne pests (e.g., nematode populations), foliar diseases incidence and severity, insect populations and weed populations at each appropriate location outlined in the USDA climate project. This information will complement the soil, agronomic and climatic data already being collected. These data will be archived in a publicly available database.
Our research team will also train the field researchers and graduate students in their deployment. We will also develop a rigorous training and quality control process to ensure that the measurements are accurate and consistent across the network of field sites and over time.