By Andi Anderson
The Midwestern Regional Climate Center (MRCC), with support from the United Soybean Board, has launched the Ag Climate Dashboard—a digital tool that brings together key climate and agricultural resources in one convenient location.
This new platform is designed to support farmers, advisors, and researchers across the Midwest.
The dashboard features a range of up-to-date weather forecasts, historical records, climate outlooks, and interactive tools that help monitor crop growth, pest threats, and weather risks.
Users can also access state-specific resources, such as Indiana’s Purdue Mesonet and the Indiana State Climate Office.
According to Austin Pearson, climatologist at the MRCC, the goal is to provide “clear, well-organized information” to help users make confident farming decisions.
Many of the dashboard’s tools were developed in response to farmer feedback collected during workshops in 2023, where producers asked for one centralized hub for ag climate resources.
Among the tools available are Purdue’s Corn Growing Degree Day calculator, which predicts crop development, and the Iowa Environmental Mesonet Pest Forecasting Map, which alerts users to threats like the alfalfa weevil.
Other features include interactive maps, fieldwork planning tools, and local climate summaries.
The dashboard also supports long-term planning by offering access to historical climatologies that influence farming and marketing decisions.
Beth Hall, MRCC Director, said the dashboard will continue growing with farmer input. Planned features include tools for irrigation planning, ZIP-code-based customization, and more user-friendly maps.
This is only the beginning for the Ag Climate Dashboard, which aims to become a vital, dynamic tool for the entire soybean-producing region and beyond.
Farmers are encouraged to explore the platform, which will continue expanding with more decision-support tools over time.
Photo Credit: istock-dusanpetkovic
Categories: Indiana, General