In the realm of modern agriculture, access to valuable climate data is expanding, thanks to innovative software applications. Introducing CliGrow, an app developed by the High Plains Regional Climate Center, designed to assist producers in estimating crop maturity based on a field's historical climate data.
CliGrow offers a comprehensive solution by showcasing the 30-year average for growing degree days, a temperature-based measure crucial for estimating the potential maturity range of crops in a new growing season.
This app, developed by Warren Pettee, an applications programmer from the High Plains Regional Climate Center, housed at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s School of Natural Resources, aims to provide value-added services by harnessing climate data.
By accessing CliGrow online and inputting specific field locations, producers can generate estimates for ten crops, including corn, soybeans, wheat, sugar beets, dry beans, sorghum, alfalfa, potatoes, sunflower, and grass, with more to be added in the future.
The software generates an informative graph depicting the 30-year average for growing degree days, alongside historical data on the first and last frost dates for the selected location. Producers can save the graph link for easy access and stay updated on their field's crop maturity estimate at any time.
The High Plains Regional Climate Center, in collaboration with the National Drought Mitigation Center and Nebraska State Climate Office, has developed CliGrow to provide nationwide applications for farmers. The tool, which focuses on temperature, offers location-specific climate information, making it an invaluable resource for producers.
The High Plains Regional Climate Center, funded by NOAA, serves six states, including Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, North Dakota, and South Dakota. It provides climate research, services like customized data access, real-time maps, climate condition reports, drought monitoring, and agriculture-focused water resource management tools.
CliGrow empowers producers to make informed decisions using historical climate insights, enhancing agricultural planning and establishing local and regional connections. The innovative app empowers individuals through climate data-driven decision-making.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-scharfsinn86
Categories: Nebraska, Crops