By Blake Jackson
The New York State Integrated Pest Management Program (NYSIPM), in collaboration with the Northeast Regional Climate Center (NRCC) at Cornell University and the New York State Mesonet (NYSM), has successfully expanded access to real-time, localized weather data for farmers and growers across New York.
The NEWA system, a weather and pest management decision support system, utilizes data from a network of weather stations to provide accurate forecasts for insect pests, plant diseases, and crop production risks.
By integrating data from NYSM's extensive network of weather stations, NEWA has significantly improved the accuracy and coverage of its forecasts, particularly in underserved rural areas.
The partnership between NYSIPM, NRCC, and NYSM has doubled the number of weather stations providing information to New York farmers.
This expansion has enabled more than 1200 registered NEWA users to access hyper-localized data from over 285 combined weather stations.
"The collaboration between the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program, Northeast Regional Climate Center at Cornell University and our colleagues at the University at Albany has effectively doubled the number of weather stations providing information to New York farmers, resulting in more accurate data in more areas of the state." Dan Olmstead, NYSIPM’s digital outreach and development coordinator.
The capabilities of the enhanced system were put to the test during a late-season frost in April 2024, which caused significant damage to grape and apple growers statewide.
NEWA and NYSM data were instrumental in assessing the geographic extent and severity of the damage, aiding growers and researchers in understanding the impact of frost events and facilitating crop insurance claims.
Olmstead highlighted the broader implications of the NEWA/NYSM partnership in helping farmers navigate climate change.
The system provides valuable tools and data for adapting to changing conditions and mitigating risks associated with extreme weather events.
The enhanced understanding of short-term forecasts for insect pests, plant diseases, and crop production conditions enables farmers to develop long-term strategies for resilience.
“I’m really excited to see how the unprecedented NYSM data are directly used for agriculture and climate models and products and directly benefit farmers and all sectors in New York,” Junhong Wang, Director of NYSM.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-shotbydave
Categories: New York, Education