Is it Raining Outside?

There is one tool that every farmer in Washington BETTER use and one every other person SHOULD...

Ag Weather Net is a WSU real time weather website with weather stations littered throughout the state of Washington that updates from these 130+ stations every 15 minutes.  Wow!  The information is real time and the only prediction is sent out as a weekly email that both recaps the last week and also gives the expected general weather for Washington

The sites give you access to all historical data for the sites, along with their current air temperature, humidity, evapotransporation, rainfall and much, much more.  In my life, I use Ag Weather Net to decide which vineyards to look at, if it is indeed raining where the weather man says it is and also for the disease pressure.

Farmers are facing one of the most difficult time of the year.  Cherries can be ruined by rain and Ag Weather Net allows farmers to know in real time if it is raining close to or even at their site.  If you have the money, WSU will even place a weather station at your desired location.  Warning: it does cost a few thousands, of course. 

I am currently all over the Powdery Mildew model for Southeast Washington.  Many farmers  use Ag Weather Net as a tool to decide their fungicide program but looking at a disease model that says you have 80-100% pressure for a terrible disease that can ruin your year can stress a farmer out, let me tell ya. 

I encourage you to check it out! www,weather.wsu.edu  Even in everyday life it can be great to know if it is really raining at the town next door or if the weather man is wrong.