The availability of daily weather text messages and easier navigation are among the latest additions to the Farmers’ Forecast, an online channel at www.weather.com/farming designed exclusively for farmers by The Weather Channel in partnership with Monsanto.
“Having accurate weather information is a key part of growing a successful crop,” said Monsanto Brand Communications Manager, Jenna Oesch. “That is why Monsanto and The Weather Channel are working together to enhance Farmers’ Forecast, the online tool that provides up-to-the-minute local forecasts and agriculture-specific weather data to farmers.”
Launched in 2009, Farmers’ Forecast has undergone major enhancements to increase the resource’s ease of use and versatility. One of the major upgrades in 2010 is that Farmers’ Forecast has expanded beyond traditional Internet to include SMS texting. By signing up online from a computer or phone, farmers can choose to receive the daily Farmers’ Forecast via text message. The location-based weather update includes forecast and soil moisture levels, chance and amount of rain precipitation, and wind and speed direction.
“Our studies have shown that farmers check weather conditions as frequently as 87 percent of the time they log on to the Internet, and nearly 70 percent of farmers have the ability to send and receive SMS texts on their cell phones,” said Oesch. “Those statistics, as well as today’s volatile climate, make providing farmers with the forecasts they need from a reliable source such as The Weather Channel an easy choice for Monsanto.”
Although The Weather Channel does not charge for text message alerts, message and data rates may apply from the user’s mobile phone company. This service is available on all phones with text messaging.
Also new in 2010, Farmers’ Forecast will be re-designed to allow for easier navigation with more available data. The increased data will include long-term forecasts by specific region to give farmers important, more localized information when planning ahead.
“Farmers’ Forecast is the place to go for up-the-minute, accurate weather information for farmers,” said Oesch. “It is a lifestyle site that totally makes sense for anyone involved in row crop agriculture, and Monsanto is proud to partner with The Weather Channel to make it available.”
Much like the traditional weather.com site, farmers can visit www.weather.com/farming to obtain detailed local forecast data for their zip code, as well as other information relevant to their farming needs such as soil moisture, growing degree days, and historical temperature and precipitation records.