Weather Innovations

Staying up to date on the weather is paramount for every farmer. Knowing rainfall, wind speeds, and other factors help impact farm production decisions which ultimately affect crop yields and success. We continue utilizing innovative technology to make best management practices that help us grow the best food. 

We rely on our four weather stations to manage and provide data for rain, sunlight, temperature, wind, and humidity on our farm. This data helps us assess important aspects of farming like soil moisture and temperature. Recording this data aids in water conservation, disease control, and other factors allowing us to work in harmony with the weather and improve our growing techniques and conservation efforts. 

Our cloud-based weather station monitors important real-time information linked to NEWA, Network for Environment, and Weather Applications. These stations monitor wind speed & direction, relative humidity & dew point, temperature, precipitation or rainfall, leaf wetness, and the strength of the sun. 

 

Impacting Crop Growth 

Rain, sunlight, temperature, wind, and humidity all impact plant growth and the viability of our crops so it is important to have these weather stations providing us with data for immediate and long term decision-making. Rain is necessary for proper plant development as it aids in photosynthesis. Water enters the plant via the roots and travels up the plant stem to the leaves helping to manufacture food for the plant. Too little water and this process gets disrupted, and that also is applicable when too much rain occurs. It is helpful to know the current rainfall amounts, as well as predicted amounts to properly prepare. We implement cover crops, low-till, and contour farming as ways to help prevent soil erosion relating to rainfall. We also act preemptively by collecting rainwater and storing it in ponds for use at a later date using a trickle irrigation system. 

Sunlight

Sunlight is crucial for plants to properly grow, mature, and produce food. Sunlight starts the photosynthesis process feeding the plant. Excessive cloudy days can impact our crops and we need to plan accordingly. Our weather station provides current data, and historical data helping us to predict trends. Some of the prevention methods that we implement to keep our plants maximizing sunlight capture are to reduce weed competition and minimize leaf diseases so that the surface of the leaf is healthy. We accomplish this through a variety of sustainable and regenerative methods. Read more about it on our website. 

Temperature

Temperature influences photosynthesis, respiration (energy-producing process converting oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide), transpiration (water evaporation from leaves), and seed germination. Changes in temperature can affect plant growth, extreme temps can affect plant health and slow growth. Extreme hot weather can cause plants to bolt (begins to flower and set seed) and decrease crop production. Freezing and thawing of the soil can cause roots to heave which can damage the plant. Farmers mitigate these disturbances by ensuring healthy soil with the introduction of organic matter all year long along and by mulching at the end of the season. Both of these methods provide a barrier against extreme temperatures while adding nutrients back into the soil. 

 Humidity

Relative humidity refers to the moisture content in the atmosphere or how much water the air can hold at a given temperature without condensation. The amount of moisture in the air affects the transpiration rate in plants. In other words, how water and nutrients move to different parts of the plant all impact leaf growth, photosynthesis, and pollination. 

Wind

The wind is an important aid in the pollination process of some of our plants. Wind can also dry fields and crops so the information we receive from our weather station with regards to wind can help us know when irrigation is necessary. We recycle the rainwater water stored in our ponds to irrigate our crops using trickle irrigation to conserve water. Wind can affect the supply of carbon dioxide resulting in greater photosynthesis and speeding up growth rates. It’s helpful to know this information in advance to properly plan our production processes. 

Useful Data

Weather conditions change with the shift in wind direction, and fluctuations can hinder farming practices as well as impact crop health. Our use of weather station technology collects, records, and analyzes valuable information on the farm. This data is essential to making insightful decisions to increase the health and efficiency of your food production. Visit our website for more information about our farming practices and ways you can connect with your farmer.