For those of you who sat in our Fertilizer Applicator Certification Training, you already know about using the National Weather Service website to see and capture the seven-day forecast for manure or fertilizer applications. Go to https://www.weather.gov, then select forecast - local - then enter your zip code. View the multi-day forecast report in the lower right corner. Shown here for Marysville – doesn’t look too bad but unfortunately the ground won’t support equipment.
A couple of other tools can also be used, and have interesting features are:
- The Ohio Applicator Forecast from the Ohio Department of Agriculture is designed to help nutrient applicators identify times when weather-risk for applying is low. Visit: https://www.agri.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/oda/divisions/plant-health/resources/ohio-applicator-forecast
- The risk forecast is created by the National Weather Service
- Takes snow accumulation and melt, soil moisture, and forecast precipitation and temperatures into account.
- The chances of surface runoff in the next 24 hours are displayed on the overview map of the state.
- Zoom to street level and 7 days of weather conditions and runoff chances are predicted.
- Risk is grouped into 3 categories: Low, Medium, and High.
- When the risk is Medium, it is recommended that the applicator evaluate the situation to determine if there are other locations or later dates when the application could take place.
- Field Application Resource Monitor from OSU. Visit: https://farm.bpcrc.osu.edu
- F.A.R.M. allows users to define their location of interest (using Google Maps) and receive 12- and 24-hour precipitation forecasts to aid in the application of fertilizer, manure, and/or pesticides.
- F.A.R.M. also utilizes a database of historical forecasts allowing users to search previous dates.
- Gives you a red light or a green light on application.