www.enviroweather.msu.edu
www.enviroweather.msu.edu
Enviro-weather: A Weather-based pest and cropmanagement information system for Michigan
J. Andresen, L. Olsen, T. Aichele, B. Bishop, J. Brown,
J. Landis, S. Marquie, and A. Pollyea
www.enviroweather.msu.edu
www.enviroweather.msu.edu
Enviro-weather Mission
Enviro-weather is an interactive information systemlinking real-time weather data, forecasts, and biologicaland other process-based models for assistance inoperational decision-making and risk managementassociated with Michigan’s agriculture and naturalresource industries.
www.enviroweather.msu.edu
System Basics
•8 Full- and part-time staff
•77 automated weather stations across MI andWI
•Dedicated computer system for collection,processing, dissemination, and archival of data
•System supported by MI Project GREEEN, MIAgBioResearch, MSU Extension, externalgrants, corporate/individual sponsorships, andgrower contributions
Automated
Weather
Network
via cell
modem
MSU
Enviro-weather
National Weather Service
forecast information
via satellite,
Internet
MSU
Extension
Information
for
Growers/
Managers
via Internet
via phone,
Internet,
other
via Internet
Scouting Input
Evaluated Weather , Climate
Applications and Products
Training
Feedback Loop:
Problems, Needs, New Ideas
Enviro-weather Information Flow
www.enviroweather.msu.edu
www.enviroweather.msu.edu
Enviro-weather Product Types
Enviro-weather
Plant phenologymodels
Pest models
Irrigationmanagementmodels
Weather summaries
www.enviroweather.msu.edu
www.enviroweather.msu.edu
Enviro-weather Automated Weather Network
March 2013
www.enviroweather.msu.edu
Weather Monitoring
•Variables monitored include air and soiltemps, rel. hum., precip., solar rad.,wind speed and dir., leaf wetness, and soilmoisture
•Network utilizes cell IP modems
•Obs. available at 5 min., 1 hour, and 24 hourintervals
•New sites sponsored by grants, growercontributions
www.enviroweather.msu.edu
www.enviroweather.msu.edu
www.enviroweather.msu.edu
Adding New Products
•Enviro-Weather system is modular in design toaccommodate new products
•Potential new products identified by work groupsor staff/faculty
•Product check list
–Method based on sound science
–Method tested/validated under Michigan or similarconditions
–Method usable with Enviro-Weather data, system
www.enviroweather.msu.edu
System Use Statistics2006-2012
www.enviroweather.msu.edu
Tree Fruit Survey Results
Survey of Michigan Fruit Growers and theEconomic Value of Enviro-weather
Stratum
Description
N
n
n-c
resp rate
weight
1
apples gt 1 acre
568
452
348
77.0%
1.632
2
tarts gt 1 acre
164
145
109
75.2%
1.505
3
sweets gt 1 acre
279
235
179
76.2%
1.559
4
apples ge 100 acres
81
81
63
77.8%
1.286
5
tarts ge 100 acres
55
55
47
85.5%
1.170
6
sweets ge 50 acres
32
32
22
68.8%
1.455
total
1179
1000
768
76.8%
Usage of EW
n
%
Running%
Yes, I use it myself
300
26.7
26.7
I do not, but my fieldman/consultant does
43
3.9
30.6
No
779
69.4
100
n
%
Running%
I have never heard of Enviro-weather
362
47.8
47.8
I have heard of Enviro-weather, but have notvisited the website
160
21.1
69
I have no Internet access
100
13.3
82.2
I have tried to use Enviro-weather, but it is notuseful for me
19
2.5
84.7
Other, please specify
115
15.3
100
Total
756
100
If no…
What types of internet connectiondo you have?
n
%
Running%
Dialup
24
7.8
7.8
Broadband (DSL/Cable)
178
57.0
64.9
Smartphone (Cellular)
16
5.1
70.0
Satellite
31
10.0
79.9
Dialup and broadband
4
1.4
81.3
Dialup and smartphone
3
1.0
82.3
Broadband and smartphone
48
15.4
97.7
Smartphone and satellite
6
1.8
99.5
Broadband, smartphone & satellite
1
0.5
100.0
Total
312
100.0
N=343
How useful is EW?
EW Impacts on Crop Output:Insecticides
Impact of EW on Number ofInsecticide Sprays
* Denotes statistically different from zero
EW Impacts on Crop Output:Fungicides
Impact of EW on Number ofFungicide Sprays
* Denotes statistically different from zero
EW Impact on Work Hours
n
%
Running%
Decreased it by more than 15 or more
13
4.8
4.8
Decreased it by 10 hours
18
6.4
11.2
Decreased it by 5 hours
94
33.5
44.7
No effect
141
50.3
94.9
Increased it by 5 hours
10
3.7
98.6
Increased it by 10 hours
3
1.0
99.6
Increased it by 15 or more hours
1
0.4
100.0
How has using Enviro-weather products changed the amount oftime required to manage your crop during an average work-weekduring the growing season?
Quantifying the impact on work hours based on $15 per hour forall apple, tart and sweet cherry growers, this amounts to a pergrower savings of 750 work hours and $11,250.
Economic Impacts onProduction and Costs
Michigan NASS 2001
Bases
Impacts on Yield
Production
Value
Use EW
Production
Value
Production
Value
mill lbs
$000s
%
mill lbs
$000s
mill lbs
$000s
Apples
590
114,875
25%
140
27,316
4.8
943.2
Tart Cherries
135
26,605
39%
51
9,970
1.8
352.4
Sweet Cherries
30
9,515
37%
11
3,400
0.4
120.2
•Impacts are based on rates of adopting EW bycommodity and average experienced yield impacts bycommodity
•Does not account for quality impacts, which tend toexceed those of yield
•Michigan production increases by 7 million lbs
•Michigan sales increase and costs savings result instatewide economic impact of $1,786,000
www.enviroweather.msu.edu
Future Directions
•Continued research, new product development
•Conversion of dataloggers (CR10X to CR1000)
•Revenue generation (value added apps, e.g. smartphone)
•Increasing use of NWS gridded products
–Real time obs. (RTMA)
–Forecast products (NDFD)
•Inclusion of climatological statistics
in system products
www.enviroweather.msu.edu
Summary
•Demand for detailed weather informationin IPM is increasing
•Weather-based applications have largepotential economic and environmentalvalue
•Sustainable funding mechanisms stillneeded, including grower contributions
www.enviroweather.msu.edu
Questions?