Current and future agricultural meteorology and climatology education needs of the US extension service

Abstract

A national system of extension programming that meets the basic meteorology needs of all agriculture with additional regional programming for particular crops is needed. Such a national system could be developed to optimize the capabilities of Federal and State agencies, and private sector entities. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and State Cooperative Extension Services should be lead agencies in this system by designating agricultural meteorology as a programming area and providing leadership for state programs. The agricultural industry needs educational programs to improve the use of existing meteorological information and to prepare to use new information and technologies as they become available. Many agricultural producers and related agribusiness managers lack a complete understanding of the data analyses and forecast products that are now available. They do not know how to access these products or how to apply them in their management systems. Agricultural producers need to learn how to use weather-driven models as a component in their daily decision making. Extension personnel should work cooperatively with research counterparts and private sector agricultural meteorologists to improve linkages that bring agricultural weather information to the agribusiness community.