What’s New: Climate Action Initiative – BC Agriculture & Food

Assessing weather data priorities for agriculture in Kootenay & Boundary

A new report – Expanding Availability of Weather Station Data and Decision-Support Tools – assesses gaps and identifies priorities in agricultural weather data collection and availability in the Kootenay & Boundary region.

The report identifies priority locations for new stations and evaluates costs and benefits of various types of station equipment. It also outlines options for improving local forecasting and for providing producers with timely and reliable weather data through a user-friendly platform.

A two-page summary of the report features recommended locations for new weather stations as well as suggestions for accessing local forecasts.

This report was developed as part of a project implemented under the Kootenay & Boundary Adaptation Strategies plan. The methodology it details can be used by other regions in BC to assess weather network coverage for agriculture.

 

Full report includes:

  • maps illustrating current weather station coverage and identifying key coverage gaps, along with recommended locations for 13 new stations
  • an assessment of weather data platform options – such as linking to FarmWest or setting up a regional system – so producers can access weather data collected by stations
  • a review of weather station brands, including the costs and benefits of different equipment
  • interim recommendations for accessing improved local forecasts

 

Free webinar next week

Join lead author, Andrew Nadler, for a presentation and Q+A to find out more about the research and results detailed in this report.

Boundary residents who don’t have a stable wifi connection are welcome to attend a communal, physically distanced session in Rock Creek. For details, email Kristina Anderson at the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary.