Future direction and needs in agricultural meteorology/climatology and modeling

Abstract

Weather and climate are the major, uncontrolled driving forces of agricultural production. They affect every production management practice from seedbed preparation to harvest. Many modern-day practices pose risks to the environment. Therefore, it is important that appropriate management practices be accomplished when weather conditions are favorable. Agricultural meteorologists are important research, education and service professionals who can develop and recommend practices that reduce risk of environmental damage. However, agricultural meteorology as a discipline is witnessing a decline in research and education professionals owing to retirements and tight university budgets that are causing the vacant positions to be left open. As a result, there is concern whether there will be enough agricultural meteorologists to meet the research, education and service demands of the future. Whenever any discipline is experiencing growth difficulties, it is important to look at what is being done and decide what should be done in the future. This paper summarizes a series of papers presented at the 1992 American Society of Agronomy meetings. Their purpose was to look into the future and evaluate areas on which the field of agricultural meteorology should focus. The papers discussed the history of agricultural meteorology, future needs in research, academic and extension education, and service to the agricultural community. Several scientific papers gave examples of some of the problems and opportunities in agricultural meteorology. In addition to traditional research in agricultural meteorology, basic research opportunities exist in the areas of weather and climate variability on a regional scale, and applied research opportunities exist in how climate and weather data can be used to improve agricultural management practices. A greater effort needs to be put into educating the public and the agricultural community on how to use climate and weather data to improve the efficiency of agricultural production.