Federal, Manitoba governments expanding network of weather stations

The federal and Manitoba governments announced on Friday that they are expanding the province’s network of automated weather stations to provide farmers with more accurate information on rain and snowfall distribution.

Manitoba has a total of 61 automated stations operated by the provincial government that provide timely, detailed information of use to Manitoba farmers, free of charge, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada said in a statement. The stations – which are solar-powered and communicate wirelessly – collect air temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, wind speed and direction, and soil temperature measurements. “Data from these weather stations will also be used to enhance flood and drought forecasting, precipitation maps, and monitoring severe weather,” the statement added.

Steve Ashton, Minister of Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation, responsible for emergency measures, noted that “improving the provincial network of weather gauging stations will provide more accurate information on rain and snowfall distribution, which can vary significantly across Manitoba watersheds and is the main input that drives hydrological forecast models. Better information enables a more accurate prediction of the amount and timing of run-off and improves flood forecasting during the spring melt.”

In 2015, the governments installed 17 new stations, Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay and Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Minister Ron Kostyshyn noted in the statement. By 2018, the agro-meteorology program will expand to 84 stations.

“An expanded network will give farmers important information on soil conditions, risk assessment for crop diseases and insects, and support decision-making for the crop-residue burning program,” the statement said.

Related: Manitoba task force recommends new insurance tools for agriculture industry

“This sophisticated equipment has already been extremely useful to farmers throughout the province, providing them with critical information for crop and land management decisions,” Kostyshyn added. “As the network continues to grow, we are able to provide information, focusing on specific details for more locations.”

The announcement followed the release of the Agriculture Risk Management in Manitoba task force report earlier this year, which raised issues related to climate change and moisture management, among others. In relation to insurance, the task force recommended that the province research and develop new insurance tools such as weather derivatives and whole-farm revenue insurance.

The task force also recommended:

• Conducting a comprehensive assessment of the role catastrophe insurance could play in mitigating the financial impact of weather-related disasters on the province (for example, reinsurance for Manitoba and municipalities);

• Continuing to develop the Excess Moisture Insurance program to ensure long-term viability;

• Renewing funding in conservation districts to improve drainage or water storage in current problem areas; and

• Providing predictable compensation for producer’s losses due to mitigation measures.