On-farm weather stations are becoming more common on orchards in NSW. Growers usually get their current weather information from services such as Bureau of Meteorology and Elders Weather, however the nearest weather station to a particular property may be more than 30km away meaning that the data that producers are obtaining is not accurate for their property. 

Key points 

• Local weather stations provide insights into the local climate data that can be used to accurately log spray records and minimize spray drift. 
• Chill portions accumulation can be calculated more accurately. 
• Rainfall data is an excellent tool growers can use to improve their irrigation efficiency and decision making. 

Weather stations range from very basic, measuring temperature and humidity, to complex research grade weather stations that measure up to 12 different data sets, and are often housed in an all-in-one sensor suite that operates on battery or solar power and can run on a range of different networks or satellites. 

Having real time weather data available allows growers to make more precise management decisions such as spray timings, accumulation of chill portions and trigger points for irrigation. Some growers are currently using weather stations at airports and research stations 15-20km away from orchards and using this data to record spray conditions. Conditions experienced at these areas are often different at growers’ orchards, resulting in inaccurate data.  

Some growers are currently using weather stations at airports and research stations 15-20km away from orchards and using this data to record spray conditions.

For example, at the NSW DPI Climate Smart Pilots demonstration site, the Atmos41 weather station deployed on farm was recording required chill accumulation 2 weeks later than the previously used weather station at the airport. 

Weather stations are an excellent tool for providing growers with real time weather data and conditions making management decisions in the orchard simpler and more targeted for the individual orchard. 

More information

For more information read the full article here: Benefits of on-farm weather stations in orchards

Acknowledgements 

• Ian Pearce, Apple and cherry farmer, Orange; Bill Shields, Apple farmer, Bilpin and Jessica Fearnley, Temperate Fruit and Nuts Development Officer DPIRD
• This work has been funded by the NSW Primary Industries Climate Change Research Strategy.
• About the Climate Smart Pilots
• This article was reviewed by Tom Flanagan and Darren Price.
• Main image –  Weather station in an apple and cherry orchard near Orange, NSW supplied by NSW DPIRD.