Any agriculturist would want to derive the most benefits from his or her farm. Over the years, agriculture has evolved to the point where farmers can easily practice precision agriculture. This article will be looking at how farmers can take advantage of on-farm weather stations to advance their precision agriculture. Before that, let’s see what precision agriculture is all about.
Areas of focus in precision agriculture
There are 3 key areas of focus when it comes to precision agriculture. These are:
- Profitability – This involves choosing both crops and markets strategically. It also involves knowing your profit margins and the costs you incur in order to get the profits.
- Sustainability – This involves the management of economic, social, and environmental aspects.
- Efficiency – To achieve efficiency, the farmer has to adopt modern ideas which can help him/her farm smarter. Also, the farmer needs to measure his or her farm performance by capturing farm data.
In order for a farmer to achieve profitability, sustainability, and efficiency, there is one thing that he or she cannot ignore. The farmer cannot afford to ignore the weather conditions. He/she has to keep track of the weather in order to avoid incurring losses. This is where the on-farm weather stations come in.
How on-farm weather stations will help you advance your precision farming
On-farm weather stations have been around for a while now. However, most farmers are not yet aware that they can take advantage of these stations to get more and better yields from their farms. Obviously, more and better yields will translate into bigger profit margins. This means that agricultural activities will be sustainable.
Some farmers don’t own on-farm weather stations because they don’t know which on-farm weather station to get. Deciding which on-farm weather station to get can be tough. It can be even tougher when you are completely new to on-farm weather stations. However, you do not have to worry. By simply checking WeatherStationAdvisor.com, you will get all the information you need regarding buying the best on-farm stations.
You probably need to know the exact benefits an on-farm weather station will have on your farm before you even check out the best weather stations. We have outlined the benefits below:
1. A weather station will help you determine when to plant
For proper germination, seeds need to be planted when the soil has the best temperature. While it is possible to use soil thermometers to check the soil temperature, this activity will be tedious for you and your workers. An on-farm weather station equipped with an outdoor temperature sensor will make things much easier for you. The station will even be able to alert you when it is time to put your seeds in the ground.
2. A weather station will help you with timing your agricultural operations
Timing is crucial when it comes to precision agriculture. If you don’t get the timing right for your agriculture activities, you are likely to be stuck with losses each and every season. With real-time weather information offered by your on-farm weather station, you will be able to perform activities such as weed and pest control at the right time.
3. You get to prevent wind damage
If you grow crops on your farm which are sensitive to wind, you have to monitor the weather conditions in order to know when you need to start implementing wind protection measures. Often, when you are planning your garden, you may not know whether you need to invest in wind control measures. To minimize the costs incurred, you may decide to leave out wind protection measures.
With an on-farm weather station, you will be able to monitor the speed of the wind. If you notice that the wind may lead to losses, you will be able to take necessary precautions on time.
4. You know when to water and how much you need to water
If you get a high-quality weather station, you will be able to monitor the rainfall totals. High-quality on-farm weather stations do have a rain gauge. After checking how much it has rained, you will have the ability to know how much watering your field requires depending on the crops you have on your farm. When watering your plants, you have a water bill to worry about. A weather station will help you avoid using excess water.
For higher yields and profit margins, invest in an on-farm weather station
If you want to make more money from your farm, you have to be able to produce more yields. With an on-farm weather station, you will be able to track your farm’s weather conditions. This will help you make crucial decisions which will help you with profitability, sustainability, and efficiency. While you have to pay for your on-farm station, the money you invest in the station is worth it considering the benefits you will be getting in the long-run. To avoid losses, make sure you get a high-quality on-farm weather station.
