The Web has changed agriculture tremendously and continues to help farmers with their operations. Today, I discovered two new online tools farmers can use, and I think both are beneficial not only for cotton growers but for all farmers.
Growing up on a farm, I know how important the weather is to crop production. My dad and many other farmers I know constantly watch the Weather Channel for the forecasts to make planting and harvesting decisions. The folks at the Weather Channel know how important their work is to agriculture and have decided to dedicate a new project specifically for the industry.
Farmers can now log on to www.weather.com/farming and simply type in their zip code or city to get the “Farmers Forecast.” The forecast includes anything from freeze warnings to wind alerts. Farmers can get projected precipitation, soil moisture and current local wind speeds at their fingertips. The daily almanac is also a feature, and agricultural news headlines and maps with graphic weather patterns are included as well.
Jeff Morrow, an on-air meteorologist with the Weather Channel, showed off the website in the media room this morning. He said farmers should know that the site requires no subscription and is very easy to access. And Morrow knows how important this information is to people in agriculture.
“There are very few industries that are as weather-sensitive as agriculture,” he said.
Monsanto’s Tyne Morgan took video of Morrow’s explanation of the site. That video can be found on Monsanto’s website.
The second Web tool is geared more specifically for cotton farmers. Cottoncommunity.com is the first online community for cotton farmers to share their experiences with one another. This social and informational network, developed by Deltapine, also includes videos, farmer testimonials and information on new cotton varieties.
According to the website, the network “is the one site where you can learn everything you need to know about new cotton varieties, hear what other growers are saying about those products and even communicate with other growers and crop consultants.”
Farmers can also search for information about cotton production in specific states, different soil types and different maturities. It also looks like a great way to keep in touch with fellow cotton farmers from different areas of the country!
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