The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) expanded its Minnesota Ag Weather Network (MAWN) with the launch of another weather station in West Central Minnesota—a critical step in strengthening data coverage for producers statewide. The new station is outside Rollag, situated within Parke Township in Clay County.
This strategic expansion helps MAWN move closer to its goal of providing real-time, hyperlocal environmental data collected within a 20-mile radius of all agricultural land across the state. By closing coverage gaps, the network empowers producers with more accurate, site-specific information to guide decisions about irrigation, crop health, soil management, and water conservation.
“MAWN stations provide critical information that assists producers statewide in making better informed decisions around all aspects of farming,” said Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. “The network helps our farmers protect their land, use water wisely, and adapt quickly to changing conditions.”
Each MAWN station captures a wide range of real-time weather and soil data critical to farming operations:
- Rainfall
- Air temperature
- Wind speed and direction
- Dew point temperature
- Soil temperature (up to 7.5 feet deep)
- Soil moisture (up to 40 inches deep)
- Solar radiation
- Snow depth and snow water equivalent
In addition to raw data, the network provides science-based decision tools, including:
- Daily estimated crop water use
- Disease risk forecasts
- Irrigation scheduling recommendations
- Runoff risk predictions
MAWN is integrated into the North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network (NDAWN) to make all weather data and agronomic tools publicly available. Minnesota-based data can be accessed through the NDAWN Inversion App, or online at the North Dakota Ag Weather Network or NDAWN Central Minnesota Weather Network.
In 2023, the MDA received $3 million from Minnesota’s Clean Water Fund to significantly expand MAWN. This funding supports the installation of about 40 new weather stations over three years in partnership with weather station hosts, local soil and water conservation districts, the University of Minnesota, and NDAWN. The MDA added nine weather stations to the network in 2024 and an additional 18 stations this year.
The MDA mapped out critical coverage areas for weather station locations but relies upon landowners willing to provide access to a small area of land for site placement. Landowners interested in hosting a weather station can learn more and complete the Minnesota Ag Weather Station Host application at www.mda.state.mn.us/weather-station-host.
To view real-time weather data or learn more about the Minnesota Ag Weather Network, visit
www.mda.state.mn.us/minnesota-ag-weather-network.
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Contact
Cynthia Moothart, MDA Communications
651-420-2637
cynthia.moothart@state.mn.us
