Subscribe to RIMpro Apple Scab, Fire Blight, Powdery Mildew and Peach Brown Rot Models, It Is Affordable!
Join RIMpro Partnership in Virginia, North Carolina and New York: Learn How to Use RIMpro Apple Scab and Fire Blight Prediction Models
Join a group of growers in Virginia, North Carolina and New York (yes, we are growing!) who have used RIMpro prediction models for apple scab and fire blight infections the last 4 years. RIMpro is a cloud based (online) cluster of apple, peach and grape disease prediction models developed over the last 30 years by the European scientists and RIMpro B.V. company from France. RIMpro is a subscription based service: https://www.rimpro.eu/ As you can see on their website, if you click on the button “Pricing and Create Account” once you open this link, one individual fruit or wine producer subscription costs ~$270-299 (250 Euros) per year. This allows you to connect one NEWA weather station to RIMpro models (you can use a VISA or other credit card to pay after you subscribe via your personal PayPal account, or you can use an invoice that RIMpro will send you in an e-mail once you subscribe via the link I sent above). An additional ~$270-299 (250 Euros) is charged for every extra weather station you wish to add to your RIMpro account. Subscription lasts for one year and is renewed annually (do it in January, so you are all set for Green Tip).
The subscription ($280-299/station) is not that expensive for the great benefits RIMpro models provide. I, myself, pay regularly for two Virginia Tech weather stations in Winchester and we use scab model and fire blight model daily to determine when to spray (I investigated it and used it for the last 9 years). I warmly recommend using RIMpro scab and fire blight models as they will allow you to cut back on sprays in the spring.
Once you subscribe, RIMpro will connect your own or any nearby NEWA weather station from your neighbor to the RIMpro cloud. As of 2025, there is no longer NEWA Data License fee that was paid to NEWA. RIMpro takes care of connecting your data to their server in France.
Once you subscribe, type in the Green Tip date as your Biofix date and use National Weather Service weather forecast for your station (or call me and I will set it up for you). Using NWS forecast will enable you to see how the disease model prediction looks like for the future weather forecast. We do not recommend relying on any weather forecast beyond 48-72 h as the forecasts can abruptly change, but NWS is very good. Individual RIMpro subscription disease model data are your personal property and should not be shared with other non-subscribed growers, unless you choose to be a member of a RIMpro user group ENY Apple FARM that, I, Srdjan Acimovic. lead. That group is assembled for the purpose of learning how to interpret RIMpro models (the members of the group can see models from ALL the other stations subscribed in the U.S., if they are in the group ENY Apple FARM). The data from your station are your property and cannot shared publicly, except if you are in the above mentioned group. I can provide you the disease model interpretation for your station if you request it via phone or e-mail.
Any interested growers who want to participate in this group should contact Srdjan Acimovic on 540 232 6037. To connect to RIMpro you can use your own, onsite weather station (RainWise or HOBO) or select any other neighbor’s NEWA weather station near you that you trust is showing accurate data to what you see on the ground. If you have any questions on the above steps to subscribe or to connect NWS forecast in your RIMpro, please contact Srdjan Acimovic on 540 232 6037.
To decide on joining this group, you can view the webinar or read more about the RIMpro models using the following links:
Introduction to RIMpro tree and grape disease prediction models
Two Years of Experience With Using RIMpro Article