New Station Improves Farm Weather Insights

By Scout Nelson

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has expanded the Minnesota Ag Weather Network (MAWN) by installing a new weather station near Viking. Known as Viking 1SW, the station fills a coverage gap for Marshall and Pennington counties, providing localized data to guide agricultural decisions.

Another station near Fosston is expected to become operational later this month, bringing the total number of stations in the network to 58.

The Viking site was established in partnership with Pennington County Ag Services, with the goal of ensuring reliable weather data is available within a 20-mile radius. This localized information supports crop health, irrigation planning, soil management, and water conservation.

“This station will finally give farmers in Northwest Minnesota access to the weather data they’ve been missing,” said Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. “It’s about providing tools that help producers protect their land, use water wisely, and adapt quickly to changing conditions.”

Each MAWN station records a wide range of real-time weather data, including rainfall, air and soil temperature, wind speed and direction, soil moisture, dew point, snow depth, and solar radiation. The system also provides valuable forecasting tools such as crop water use estimates, disease risk models, irrigation scheduling, and runoff risk predictions.

The program collaborates with the North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network (NDAWN), ensuring free public access to data. In addition, the University of Minnesota and local soil and water conservation districts are key partners in the initiative.

Funding for the expansion comes from the Clean Water Fund, which provided $3 million in 2023. This investment will support around 40 new stations within three years, with as many as 80 needed for full statewide coverage. Already, 12 new stations were installed this year in southern Minnesota, including locations in Carver, Olmsted, Renville, Freeborn, Brown, Dakota, Goodhue, Lac qui Parle, Swift, Dodge, Kandiyohi, and Jackson counties.

Real-time weather data from Viking 1SW and other sites is available through NDAWN platforms. Landowners interested in hosting a weather station can apply through the MDA website.

Photo Credit:gettyimages-tlillico