The research project, sponsored by Farm Credit Canada, involved long-term data collection from permanently placed weather stations at the Olds College Smart Farm.
The working farm is a living laboratory on campus for crop, livestock and agricultural technology research spread over 3,000 acres. The weather stations were used for a variety of purposes, including providing precipitation and soil data for research involving small crop plots; for data to help determine general crop management practices; for companies to ground truth remote data; and for teaching and learning purposes.
Modern weather stations are essential for data-driven farming. They provide real-time, hyperlocal information that helps producers manage critical tasks like pest and disease outbreaks, which are often climate-sensitive. Temperature and humidity data can help predict ideal conditions for disease development, allowing for targeted spray applications that reduce chemical use and save money. Real-time data involving rainfall and evapotranspiration (the process of water moving from the earth to the atmosphere) also helps support precise irrigation scheduling, conserving water and improving resource management.
Funders/Partners: Arable, EOS, METOS by Pessl Instruments, TELUS