By Scout Nelson
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has strengthened its Minnesota Ag Weather Network (MAWN) by adding a new weather station in West Central Minnesota. The newly installed station, located outside Rollag in Parke Township, Clay County, helps improve statewide data coverage for agricultural decision-making.
This expansion supports the goal of providing real-time weather and soil information within a 20-mile radius of every agricultural area in Minnesota.
The broader coverage gives producers access to more accurate, site-specific environmental data. This helps guide decisions about irrigation, crop health, soil care, and water conservation. Such information becomes especially important during changing climate conditions, when timely data can help protect crops and natural resources.
“MAWN stations provide critical information that assists producers statewide in making better informed decisions around all aspects of farming,” said Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. “The network helps our farmers protect their land, use water wisely, and adapt quickly to changing conditions.”
Each MAWN station collects essential real-time measurements including rainfall, air temperature, wind speed, dew point, soil temperature at multiple depths, soil moisture, solar radiation, snow depth, and snow water equivalent. Together, these measurements offer a complete picture of field conditions throughout the year.
In addition to raw climate data, MAWN provides science-based tools designed to support daily planning. These include disease risk forecasts, estimated crop water use, irrigation scheduling guidance, and runoff risk predictions. These tools help producers make choices that improve crop performance while protecting water resources.
MAWN operates in partnership with the North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network (NDAWN). Through this integration, weather data and agronomic tools are publicly available online and in the NDAWN Inversion App. Minnesota’s expanded network improves the quality of information available to both states.
The MDA received $3 million from Minnesota’s Clean Water Fund in 2023 to support the installation of about 40 new weather stations over three years. With the help of conservation districts, the University of Minnesota, NDAWN, and private landowners, nine stations were added in 2024 and 18 more were installed this year.
Landowners interested in hosting future weather stations can learn more or apply at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture website.
Photo Credit:gettyimages-shotbydave
Categories: Minnesota, Equipment & Machinery, Weather