Performing a crop inspection		Recording the inspection		An inspection path in GIS

When crops used for forage or straw are sold, transported, or distributed, the original owner has the option to have the crop certified as noxious weed free. This designation allows the product to be distributed to or used in ecologically protected areas, such as national parks. As such, any person who takes livestock or utility animals (such as horses or pack mules) into protected areas are required to bring only noxious weed free certified feed, to reduce the spread of noxious weeds in these protected areas.

Using mobile GIS, Ada County is integrating digital records of all Forage and Straw inspections. These records include attributes of the crop (crop type, location, owner information, date, time, etc), and record line records as the inspector navigates the field. This geographic reference serves both as a permanent archive for what crops were inspected, and also provides a very accurate method for the inspector to ensure complete coverage of the crop being inspected.