Pinpoint Forecasting Among The Tools WSU Brings To Agriculture

Feb 05, 2026

By Shawn Vestal

We’ve come a long way from the Old Farmer’s Almanac: These days, when farmers need to know about tomorrow’s weather — or next month’s weather — they can get a close-to-home forecast from Washington State University’s AgWeatherNet.

That system does more than predict temperatures and precipitation. Drawing on data from 370 public-private stations across the state, it uses machine learning to power tools that help growers predict wheat yields, anticipate problems with pests, protect against frost and high heat, schedule irrigation, and more.

As the amount of location-specific data grows, it will fuel even more refined microclimate forecasting — down to the level of an acre.

“It is happening now and we are improving it further,” said Lav Khot, the director of AgWeatherNet and a professor of precision agriculture in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering with a focus on agricultural automation. “That’s where AI comes in: How can we mine the information from this data and make better management decisions? It’s really changing the game.”

WSU is playing a vital role in connecting big data with modern farming — marrying the strength of high-tech research with the public-service mandate of a land-grant institution to help farmers at every stage, from preparing for the growing season to harvest.

Source : wsu.edu

Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.