Web-based weather station helps validate crop disease models
An interview with Shawn Conley, Wisconsin State Extension soybean and cereal crop specialist
Shawn Conley, Associate Professor and Subject Matter Specialist in Soybean and Grain Crops at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, uses HOBO U30 Remote Monitoring Systems to address real-world challenges in soybean and grain production. We recently spoke with Shawn about how the web-based systems are helping him with his research.
HOBO: How do data collection weather stations help you with your research?
Conley: I use HOBO® U30-GSM Remote Monitoring Systems at four of our winter wheat research sites in Wisconsin to collect weather data and determine if there is a risk of plant disease in regional soybean and wheat crops. We are comparing the collected data with information from the Scarf model to validate the model's predictions.
The Scarf prediction system was developed using 50 years of weather data. The model's risk assessment is based on the number of projected days with high precipitation and humidity rates, the optimal time for fungal spores to develop. When humidity and precipitation are high, plants are more prone to disease development.
In 2009, there was considerable pressure on farmers to apply a fungicide to their soybeans. We analyzed the data collected from the HOBO U30 systems and found that the weather conditions were not conducive to disease development. So it would not have been in farmers' best interest to spray fungicides on their fields, which can cost up to $20 to $30 per acre for soybeans.
HOBO: Do you need regional weather data? How have you dealt with this in the past?
Conley: Currently, field detection indicates that the model is working. It uses the regional weather data in the background. We are trying to optimize the system to make sure that the predictions we get match the data we collect from the HOBO U30s. At the moment we don't have annual climate trends as we only acquired the HOBO U30 systems about a year ago.
HOBO: What do the weather stations measure?
Conley: We monitor leaf wetness, soil moisture, temperature and humidity. The leaf wetness data helps us determine if conditions are optimal for disease development. Fortunately, we had a situation where one of the soil moisture sensors triggered an alarm and notified us that one of the areas we were monitoring was going to be affected by drought. We shared this information with farmers and crop advisors to help them make better decisions.
HOBO: How do you work with the data?
Conley: We usually download the data into HOBOware® Pro and export it to Excel. Sometimes we add the graphs to our blog, TheSoyReport.
HOBO: Do you face any particular challenges in collecting and retrieving data?
Conley: We have not encountered any challenges with data collection. We have utilized the web-based platform and can view the data at all of our locations, which are many miles away. We typically download the data first thing in the morning and can run any necessary system diagnostics on the U30 directly from our computer.
HOBO: What product features do you look for in a weather station?
Conley: We wanted something that was easy to install, user-friendly and gave us a quick and easy way to interpret the data. Ideally, we hope to get more funding so we can install additional systems around the state to get more information on the conditions that affect crops.
HOBO: What funding sources have you utilized for the HOBO U30s?
Conley: We received two grants. One grant was from the U.S. Scab Initiative and the other was from the Wisconsin Crop Improvement Association. We purchased the other two systems out of our own pocket.