DTN Ag Weather Station

DTN Ag Weather Station

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
Weather is one of the biggest risk factors farmers have to deal with each day. With so much at stake, farmers require a trusted ag weather tool like the DTN Ag Weather Station to stay on top of changing weather conditions and to interpret weather-related data when making important marketing, business and agronomic decisions that affect their profitability. DTN Vice Pres. and Gen. Manager Matt Bradford talks about their program for installing weather stations on individual farms.

 

The DTN Ag Weather Station is a precision weather instrument that takes field-level weather to the next level by combining highly localized forecasts and alerts with critical weather and agronomic data.

 

With DTN Ag Weather Station as its foundation, DTN/The Progressive Farmer has built the largest, most accurate weather network since introducing the service four years ago. There are nearly 4,800 DTN Ag Weather Station units across the United States and Canada, making it the largest commercially operated ag weather station network.

 

DTN's award-winning ag weather team of meteorologists utilize the data from its extensive weather network to deliver highly localized forecasts to farmers daily and hourly. According to ForecastWatch.com. DTN has had more most accurate temperature and precipitation forecasts than any other weather service provider in North America, for nine consecutive years.

 

Farmers view updated forecasts, precipitation readings and field, soil and wind conditions using the DTN Ag Weather Station's digital weather dashboard.

 

"In the past, farmers would have to drive around from field to field to monitor field conditions and rainfall amounts," said DTN Vice President of Agriculture Matt Bradford. "Now today's multitasking farmer can save time and money by accessing this information through their mobile devices or computer."

 

For instance, with just a couple clicks or screen swipes a farmer can monitor the wind conditions in a field using a DTN Ag Weather Station to determine if field spraying is possible. Evaporation and soil moisture data collected by DTN Ag Weather Station lets farmers know if they need to irrigate a field without actually having to visit the field. In addition, farmers also can access previously recorded data in the system's historical weather section to assist with operational decisions.

 

Through DTN Ag Weather Station, farmers can manage their farming operation more effectively to: Better allocate resources like staff and equipment based on the weather conditions; Boost crop yields through more strategic crop decisions; Reduce costs of in-field operations affected by weather; and Enhance operational efficiencies with better planning.

The most dependable ag weather information comes from monitoring devices placed directly in fields. While DTN Ag Weather Stations go directly in fields to gather crop and field condition data, a number of weather station networks are miles away from ag production. In fact, some ag weather services use just National Weather Service weather stations, often positioned at airports, for their forecasts. While a farmer might get an accurate weather forecast for a field by one of these stations, the weather might be completely different at a farm two or three counties away. Plus, those weather stations likely do not have the ability to monitor soil conditions like DTN Ag Weather Station.

 

Bradford noted that farmers can package DTN Ag Weather Station with other MyDTN tools for the quality data and market insights they need to make profitable decisions.

 

"DTN Ag Weather Station is the ideal weather monitoring tool for farmers who make business decisions on the go," said Bradford. "It enables them to operate more efficiently, increase production and optimize profitability."

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