Weather Innovation Supports Ohio Farm Growth

By Andi Anderson

A new Ohio Mesonet network led by the State Climate Office of Ohio and The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) is transforming weather monitoring for farmers and local communities.

Designed to close radar and data gaps across rural regions, the network delivers real-time, field-level weather insights that support safer, more precise decision-making.

Rural areas in northwest, northeast, and southeast Ohio often lack accurate radar coverage, making it difficult to detect local soil moisture, wind gusts, or early storm formation. The Mesonet addresses this issue with advanced weather stations that collect surface-level data essential for both agriculture and public safety.

“Weather remains the single most influential factor in crop yield, yet parts of Ohio still lack adequate weather monitoring,” said Aaron Wilson, CFAES climate specialist. “That lack of information introduces risk — and in farming, risk is everything.”

The Mesonet’s stations measure air and soil temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind speed, and soil moisture. Each site also includes leaf wetness sensors and multiple humidity levels that help forecast diseases and identify temperature inversions — valuable tools for spray management and pest control.

The Ohio Soybean Council, an early partner, supports the Mesonet as a tool to improve crop management and field scheduling. “Weather information is valuable to Ohio’s soybean farmers, both in the short term and the long term,” said Tom Fontana, director of research and education for the council.

Ten stations have already been deployed, with expansion planned across all 88 counties. Beyond farming, the network also aids the National Weather Service in detecting local weather hazards, leading to faster and more accurate severe weather warnings.

With public and private partners — including CFAES, weatherUSA, Nationwide, and the Ohio Farm Bureau — the Ohio Mesonet is positioned to build a stronger, data-driven future for Ohio agriculture.

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