New 'farm weather' app helps growers manage irrigation

Florida growers can now use their computers and even smart phones to get real-time local weather data via a "My Florida Farm Weather" initiative developed by Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the University of Florida's Florida Automated Weather Network (FAWN) program.

The next-generation technology, which includes weather stations located on a farmer's land, provides up-to-the-minute data on key weather variables such as temperature, rainfall, humidity, dew point, wind speed and wind direction.

The information is available online and also on Android smart phone devices. An iPhone application will be available in the future.

A map of Florida aggregates data collected from weather stations positioned on private agricultural lands across the state.

"This technology will help Florida agricultural producers more efficiently manage irrigation and the application of nutrients on their lands," Florida Agriculture Commission Adam H. Putnam said in early September in announcing the availability of the new application. "Real-time data will also help producers reduce costs and mitigate their impact on the environment."

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• Irrigation