--- title: Preventing and controlling mite-flare-ups description: Ceres Imaging helped Samuel Farms cut costs by reducing spray applications by 50%. image: https://ceres.ai/hubfs/IMG_0194%20(2).jpg --- [![Logo](https://ceres.ai/hs-fs/hubfs/Logo.png?width=157&height=36&name=Logo.png "Logo")](https://ceresimaging.net) CASE STUDIES # Preventing and controlling mite-flare-ups ## Samuel Farms > "The difference between Ceres Imaging and other technologies I’ve used is the help I get from their expert support team." Jake Samuel, Partner Four generations of the Samuel family have farmed in the San Joaquin Valley over the past century. Today, they're among the nation's leading suppliers of sugar- and preservative-free dried fruit. ![IMG_0450 (2)](https://ceres.ai/hubfs/IMG_0450%20(2).jpg "IMG_0450 (2)") ###### Crop Type Cherries ###### Location San Joaquin County, California ###### Category Pest and disease ###### Highlight 50% reduction in spray applications #### **The problem** Jake Samuel often struggled to get ahead of mite flare-ups at his family-owned farm. His PCA visits less frequently in the summer months—so with limited information to work with, when Jake did discover mites he tended to spray the entire block, just to be safe. Though he'd been working with Ceres Imaging specifically on irrigation management, Jake now wondered if his aerial imagery might also help him detect mites earlier and make targeted interventions with confidence. #### **The solution** Reviewing imagery from the previous season, Jake found the mite problem was in fact visible before he had spotted the flare-up on the ground three weeks later. Jake now schedules more frequent summer flights to help spot mite problems before they impact the crop. When a pest problem does arise, the detailed imagery helps him save money with precision spraying. #### **The outcome** Ceres Imaging helped Samuel Farms cut costs by reducing spray applications by 50%.   ![Samuel_Farms_before&after-01-1](https://ceres.ai/hs-fs/hubfs/Samuel_Farms_before%26after-01-1.png?width=860&height=1200&name=Samuel_Farms_before%26after-01-1.png "Samuel_Farms_before&after-01-1") The mite infestation is visible as more and yellow and red signals in the eastern side of the block, indicating increased stress. > I used to think imagery was only helpful for water stress. We now use Ceres Imaging to get ahead of pest flare-ups. Jake Samuel, Partner [![Back to case studies](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/3781587/b506897b-71f8-42f0-8b6a-990b37d381cf.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/3781587/b506897b-71f8-42f0-8b6a-990b37d381cf) ### More case studies [Wine grapes Agribusiness Grower ## Issue scouting on a sustainable vineyard ](https://ceres.ai/customer-stories-old/imagery-for-issue-scouting-on-a-sustainable-vineyard) [Tomatoes Agribusiness Grower ## Optimizing irrigation strategy in tomatoes ](https://ceres.ai/customer-stories-old/optimizing-irrigation-strategy-in-tomatoes) [Almonds Agribusiness Grower ## Efficient workflows for drip irrigation maintenance ](https://ceres.ai/customer-stories-old/efficient-workflows-for-drip-irrigation-maintenance) [**CERES IMAGING**](https://www.ceresimaging.net/) 409 13th St. 16th Floor Oakland, CA 94612 +1 888-704-9398 [support@ceresimaging.net](mailto:support@ceresimaging.net)     ### Newsletter sign-up © 2026 Ceres Imaging This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. [**](https://www.facebook.com/ceresimaging/) [**](https://www.linkedin.com/company/ceres-imaging) [**](https://twitter.com/ceresimaging?lang=en) [**](https://www.instagram.com/ceresimaging/?hl=en) ### For a limited time, book a free water stress analysis from Ceres Imaging and test-drive the industry’s most popular aerial imagery solution. [![Book now](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/3781587/ba3e2153-685e-429a-9aff-b7dd9323d7c7.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/3781587/ba3e2153-685e-429a-9aff-b7dd9323d7c7) [##](##)