AgWeatherNet: An introduction to the network, data, and decision support tools – Sean Hill, WSU

AgWeatherNet (AWN) provides Washington State farmers, gardeners, researchers, and policy makers with weather data and weather-related decision-support tools to improve agricultural production (yield and quality), efficiency, and profitability while minimizing environmental impacts. AWN was established to serve irrigated agriculture in central Washington, but with a legislative mandate to serve the entire state has expanded to better serve other regions.

AgWeatherNet staff responsible for station maintenance, computational systems, extension, and research are distributed across five WSU locations to better serve a large and agriculturally diverse state. AWN staff work closely with researchers and extension specialists across the WSU College of Agriculture, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences, the WSU, and other universities, to continuously develop new and improved agricultural decision support tools.

The AWN automated weather station network is comprised of three tiers, all solar powered and reporting at 15-minute intervals: (1) Professional weather stations with Campbell Scientific CR-1000 data loggers and a complement of professional grade sensors from different manufacturers; (2) all-in-one weather stations designed and manufactured in Washington State by the METER group; and (3) privately installed and maintained weather stations with AWN quality control. Standard AgWeatherNet weather variables include air temperature, relative humidity, soil temperature, rainfall, wind speed, wind direction, and solar radiation. Some stations also measure atmospheric pressure, soil moisture, and/or leaf wetness.

To register, please go to https://horticulture.wsu.edu/seminar-registration/