By Scout Nelson
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has expanded its Minnesota Ag Weather Network (MAWN) by installing three new stations in East Central Minnesota. These stations are located in Isanti, Kanabec, and Mille Lacs counties. This expansion improves access to local weather and soil data in areas where better information is needed for daily agricultural planning.
The installation work is part of a broader summer effort that began with a new station in Chippewa County in Western Minnesota. Over the past two years, the MDA has worked to strengthen the network. Since 2024, a total of 28 stations have been added across the state. The goal is to ensure that every agricultural region has reliable data within a close range of about 20 miles.
All newly installed stations are expected to become fully operational before the end of the growing season. These stations will help improve decision-making by offering real-time environmental information.
“Every farm in Minnesota depends on good information, and these stations help deliver it,” said Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. “As we expand the network, producers get a clearer picture of what’s happening in their fields so they can make decisions that protect their crops, their soil, and their water.”
Each MAWN station collects important data such as rainfall, air temperature, wind speed, dew point, and solar radiation. It also measures soil temperature up to 7.5 feet deep and soil moisture up to 40 inches. In winter, the stations record snow depth and water content.
The network also provides useful tools like growing degree days, irrigation guidance, daily crop water-use estimates, disease risk alerts, and temperature inversion warnings. These tools help improve planning and reduce risks.
MAWN is connected to the North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network (NDAWN), making all data publicly available through online platforms and the NDAWN Inversion App.
The expansion is supported by $5.25 million from Minnesota’s Clean Water Fund in 2023 and 2025. The funding supports partnerships with local agencies and aims to build complete statewide coverage.
To access real-time data, visit: www.mda.state.mn.us/minnesota-ag-weather-network
Photo Credit: gettyimages-tlillico
Categories: Minnesota, General, Weather