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June 10, 2004 New Features Added to North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network The North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network (NDAWN) Web site now includes a new barley growing degree day and growth stage model similar to the current wheat model, according to Jon Enz, North Dakota State University agricultural climatologist. “Also, the data request pages for all of the current GDD and growth stage applications have been revised so they are consistent between crops and the interfaces for both potato late blight and sugarbeet cercospora are now similar.” The NDAWN Web site provides hourly and daily weather data which can help the region’s producers predict crop insect and disease development. The Web site is located at www.ndawn.ndsu.nodak.edu. The revised Web site also contains new mapping features. Previously, maps were only available for application data, but now they are available for all weather data. NDAWN users can choose a weather variable for any time period and obtain a map showing the requested data for all 67 NDAWN stations. Users can, in a short period of time, review maps such as total rainfall for the past day, week or month, average temperature for any time period and other variables. NDAWN also allows plotting of data from past years. Graphing is another new feature. “Any column in a weather data table or application can be graphed by clicking on a graph icon in the column heading,” Enz says. “Almost instantly these data will be plotted and ready for further analysis. If data for more than one station is chosen, all data will be graphed so the user can compare results at different stations.” This spring, growing degree day (GDD) and growth stage estimation models are available for wheat, canola, sugarbeet and sunflower. In addition, GDD are calculated for corn. For each GDD application, the user enters an NDAWN station location and planting date and quickly obtains a table showing daily air temperatures, GDD and estimated crop stages since planting. Since crop growth stages determine what pesticides can be used, estimated growth stages provide information that helps producers apply herbicides and/or fertilizers at optimum times which help maximize their efficiency. People who are interested in statewide conditions for any of these crops can also request maps showing current GDD totals and estimated growth stages at all NDAWN stations. NDAWN temperature, humidity and rainfall data are also used to estimate the development of diseases, thus providing additional management information. Current applications include a small grain disease forecaster that identifies favorable weather conditions for tanspot, fusarium, rust, and septoria development and calculates risk of infection. This information along with the NDAWN growth stage estimates helps producers decide when or if to apply fungicide on their small grain crops. Growth stage estimates help identify time periods when wheat and other crops are susceptible to certain diseases or insects. Other disease prediction models warn producers of impending outbreaks of potato late blight and sugarbeet cercospora in time for producers to take corrective action. There is also a “More Information” link that describes the relationship between GDD’s, growth stage, and associated management information for each application. All table column headings are also linked to explanations and calculation procedures, etc. All data can be easily downloaded in spreadsheet and GIS compatible formats. If producers are interested they may also enter planting and ending dates for a past year in order to compare GDD’s and/or stages to the current year. "Hopefully we will see more and more disease, insect and crop prediction models on the Web site in the future," Enz says. "Research scientists at NDSU are currently developing new applications and we will try to add as many as possible. It is exciting to see the data base/Web system progressing.” ### Source: John
Enz, (701) 231-8576, john.enz@ndsu.nodak.edu |
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North Dakota State University |
