ISHS Acta Horticulturae 313: III International Symposium on Computer Modelling in Fruit Research and Orchard Management
REAL-TIME WEATHER SYSTEMS IN AGRICULTURAL SUPPORT: THE LOOP IS CLOSED - OR IS IT? |
| Authors: | G.E. Bingham, G.D. McCurdy, R.W. Hill |
| Abstract:
Timely weather data can provide key information to both farmers and agricultural managers on the status and cultural options available for crop and orchard products. Weather data collection systems reporting to central locations have been in operation for several years. At these centers, weather information is analyzed and processed through various models to anticipate production management requirements. Significant problems occur when locally specific advisory information is computed at a central site. These include the cost and time required to return the desired "value added" weather information to production sites, and client confidence in the product. In this paper we describe our experience in providing effective "value added" weather information to farm and orchard operators. Our experience has resulted in moving the computation of management information closer to the weather data and production sites. We conclude that the technology exists to allow the operator to compute the specific information he desires at his site, when he wants it. We suggest that the most effective support system is one which provides the training and software, and develops the necessary specialized hardware to foster computing management options on the farm. We describe how our role and activities have changed with this change in our support mode. | |
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