United States Department of Agriculture's weather and climate information system for operational applications in agriculture

Abstract

AbstractThere are many challenges facing today's farmers and the use of weather and climate can help farmers in meeting and overcoming these challenges. Additionally, government decision‐makers use information on actual and potential crop production impacts, a large percentage of which is based on weather and climate information such as drought, heavy rain events, and hurricanes. The Joint Agricultural Weather Facility (JAWF) is an example of one U.S. Government organization successfully using weather and climate information in many of its operational applications that are disseminated to users. These agricultural weather applications or products are grouped into tactical (short‐term) and strategic (long‐term) products. Examples of tactical products discussed include the Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin (WWCB); routine and special crop‐weather assessments, and a Regional Weather Network in Mississippi. Strategic products discussed include the U.S. Drought Monitor and the use of weather information in the monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) process. The purpose of this paper is to provide some successful applications of climate and weather information and how this information is communicated between this agrometeorological service and farmers. Also, the goal is to provide lessons learned for other agrometeorological services around the world. Copyright © 2006 Royal Meteorological Society