Farming is one of the top sectors that this world can’t live without. Whether farms are focused on crops or livestock, they play a significant role in providing the needs of society. The obligation to supply society’s food demands has helped the farming industry develop ways to enhance protection for their livestock and crops.
One of the known ways farmers protect cattle and other livestock, or fruits and vegetables, is through weather tracking. Why is it necessary, and what can it do for a farm?
Decision-Making
The weather is a crucial aspect that allows farmers to make the right decisions, especially for crop farmers who follow weather patterns when planting fruits and vegetables. Some crops cannot be grown in high humidity levels while other plants get ruined when they are exposed to too much rain or cold weather.
Through the use of on farm weather equipment, farmers can schedule their planting activities so crops won’t suffer, and losses can be reduced significantly.
Early Preparations
For livestock farmers, tracking the weather and potentially harsh outdoor conditions helps with overhauling cattle stalls and fodder storage. Farmers use on farm weather equipment to find out if they need to strengthen the foundations of livestock stalls and storage areas in preparation for thunderstorms or blizzards.
Weather tracking tools help farmers know when they should prepare preserved fodder for cattle. During the dry season, green forage can be tough to maintain. Farmers track weather conditions so they can prepare adequate feed that has the same nutrition content green forage offers.
Disease Prevention
Farmers who track climate changes can protect the health of livestock during humid seasons wherein diseases can spread quickly. Studies prove that high humidity allows for various infections and viruses such as sclerotinia and fungal infections to spread, especially if air circulation is limited in cattle sheds.
When weather tracking equipment reveals that the next few days will be hot and dry, farmers will purchase disease prevention and control sprays so they can strengthen the immunity of their livestock before the humid days arrive.
The concept of preparation is also applicable in crop farms wherein there are certain weather conditions recommended for spraying herbicides and other crop boosters. For example, farmers will know when the wind is calm or too strong. Spraying is best done when there’s no wind, to ensure that distribution is equal and all crops will get the treatment.
The weather is a very critical factor that allows farmers to come up with decisions that will benefit their businesses in the long run. Without the appropriate weather equipment, farmers can’t prepare accordingly for climate changes that could result in considerable losses in crops or severe infestations in livestock.