Agriculture is a field and process that is very dependent on the weather of a given place at a particular time. The success of any farmer therefore will depend on how well the farmer will predict the weather and plan all of his or her farm activities to be in line with what the weather dictate. This relationship between weather and agriculture has therefore necessitated the need for accurate prediction of the weather so as to enable farmers make informed decision that will not bring losses to them.

The need to accurately predict the weather has therefore led to the growth of the weather forecasting departments in nearly all countries across the world. This departments are responsible for advising the farmer on the expected rainfall in a given place, the temperature that will prevail in a given place, the humidity levels among many other aspects of the weather. The study and use of the information given by the forecasting departments has ensured that the farmers are making the right farming decisions.

In to the future, agriculture and farming will require that they get timely and accurate information in relation to the weather so as to ensure that there is continued success in the agricultural sector.

Suitability and use of meteorological information by farmers

• Development of irrigation schedules in the farm

Using metrological information in regard to the rainfall expected in a given area, a farmer is able to develop an irrigation schedule that factors in water available at a particular time in a farm together with water that the farm is expected to receive when it rains in the future. This way a farmer is able to plant and use the available water in the farm to water the plants until the onset of the rains. When the rains begin the farmer is expected to harvest the rain water so as to ensure that he or she has sufficient water to cater for the crops.

This irrigation schedule is meant to ensure that no water is wasted at any point in time.

• Indication of the renewable energy the farm will get

Through weather forecasting, a farmer is able to know and prepare on how to use the renewable energy that his or her farm will be exposed to. Forecasting will enable a farmer to know the solar, the wind and also the anaerobic energy that a farm will get and how this renewable energy will be utilised in the farm.

A farmer is able to harness the power of solar and wind energy by installing solar panels and wind turbines respectively so as to harvest this energy. Harvesting and storing this energy will enable the farmer to put them into proper use while averting any destruction that would have been caused by the wind and solar.

• Facilitates safe handling of the farm

Through the study of forecast information, a farmer is able to facilitate and enhance safety in the farm. Through information relating to temperature and humidity, a farmer is able to take necessary action in the animals and birds shade so as to ensure that the animals and birds are not exposed to extreme temperature and humidity conditions. When there is a forecast that the temperature is going to be low a farmer should take action to ensure that the animals will be warm enough when the low temperature prevail.

Information relating to humidity also enables a farmer to plan for the optimum levels of storing the feeds and also the harvested crop. Forecast information also enable a farmer to be prepared for the very extreme weather conditions like frost, hail and drought so as to ensure that on the onset of these extreme weather condition, the farm will not be affected.

Satellite and weather forecasting

To facilitate accurate and precise information that will facilitate future farming, meteorology will move from the use of traditional techniques of weather forecasting to the use of satellite for weather forecasting. Satellite forecasting of the weather will be preferred because of its global coverage, accuracy and high resolution.

Another preference of the satellite forecasting is its ability to predict the weather for a relatively longer period. This is unlike the other traditional forecasting methods whose time frames are very short leaving farmers with inadequate time to prepare. Into the future therefore, farmers will overly rely on the satellite forecasting due to its numerous advantages.

Tailor-made forecasting schedules

Most of the weather forecast information currently being used often times contradict each other and they predict the weather for a very short time leaving the farmer with very limited time to organise himself or herself. This has sometimes made farmers make decisions based on inaccurate information which has led to some costly mistakes by the farmers.

In a bid to do away with this inaccuracy of the weather forecast information that are in the print media and audio-visual media, farmers and farming agencies are now bringing on board their own meteorological experts. These meteorological experts are tasked with tailor-made weather forecast for the farmers and the farming agencies. After getting the information, these experts are then tasked with advising the agricultural organisation and farmers on what best needs to be done based on the information at hand.

This method of getting experts to do tailor-made weather forecast is a little bit expensive compared with the use of the cheap weather forecast information available in the media but it is beneficial to the farmers in the long run.

Major weather elements that affect farm planning and operations

• The maximum and the minimum temperature
• The speed, the direction and the strength of wind
• The hours of bright sunshine
• Extreme weather events including but not limited to thunderstorms, hail, fog, heat waves, cyclones, tornadoes among many other weather events.
• Precipitation and dew.
• Solar radiation
• Pan evaporation rates