A new statewide, online herbicide tracking application is helping MoDOT save time and money. The database keeps track of herbicides MoDOT uses to manage roadside vegetation.

“The database captures more accurate and consistent information for every spray application we make,” said Rand Swanigan, roadside management specialist. “It also allows our building supervisors to monitor herbicides they have in inventory and keep records that help them better manage their applications.”

As a result, Swanigan said, herbicide applications are more efficient, which helps protect the environment. It also saves the department some money.

“It’s hard to estimate a ‘true’ cost savings, but we see it reducing costs by $50,000 or more the first year just by helping us to better manage our inventories and plan for ordering supplies for next year's applications,” Swanigan said. “Also, access to records is almost instantaneous, where previously it might have taken hours or days to locate one specific spray record.”