This is a representation of the new Enviroweather Mobile app developed by Michigan State University AgBioResearch and the Michigan State Horticultural Society. (Photo courtesy MSU)

EAST LANSING — The launch of the mobile app Enviroweather Mobile for farmers and growers in Michigan has been announced by Michigan State University AgBioResearch in partnership with the Michigan State Horticultural Society.

Enviroweather has helped Michigan agricultural producers make informed decisions related to pest control, plant production and natural resource management since 1996.

With funding support from Project GREEEN, Enviroweather stations are located at 99 sites in the state, collecting information on temperature, rainfall, humidity, dew point, wind direction, soil conditions and more for the state’s plentiful and diverse agricultural regions.

Project GREEEN is the state’s plant ag collaborative housed at MSU and made up by MSU AgBioResearch, MSU Extension, the Michigan Plant Coalition and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Until now, data gathered by the tool could only be accessed reliably from a desktop using a web browser, but Enviroweather Mobile will change that, as producers can now easily access real-time data to inform decision-making while working in the field.

“Farmers and growers are at the heart of everything MSU AgBioResearch does,” said George Smith, director of MSU AgBioResearch. “Since its creation, Enviroweather has been a game-changing tool to assist in the needs of our state’s producers.

“The deployment of Enviroweather Mobile represents our team’s dedication to always looking at what can be improved. I couldn’t be more excited for how this resource will further support the people who are helping put food on our tables.”

In addition to the data collected on weather, Enviroweather provides insightful models that contribute to strategies for controlling pests and pathogens, ranging from fire blight in apples and cherry leaf spot, to seedcorn maggots threatening vegetables such as corn, soybeans and cucurbits.

“Farmers are on the go more than ever,” said Ben Smith, executive director of the Michigan State Horticultural Society. “Quick access to updated weather information, as well as pest and disease models, is critical to making good decisions. Enviroweather Mobile will allow growers easy and complete access to the power of Enviroweather wherever they can find a cell phone signal.

“Better decisions around weather and pest and disease control will lead to more efficient and successful farms.”

The development of Enviroweather Mobile was made possible with funding support given by Project GREEEN and MDARD’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.

Led by MSU graduate student Dao Chi Lam, the MSU AgBioResearch Research Evaluation and Data Analytics team spearheaded the app’s design.

Download Enviroweather Mobile for free on the Apple App Store or Google Play.

Michigan State University AgBioResearch scientists discover dynamic solutions for food systems and the environment. To learn more, visit agbioresearch.msu.edu.