Tag Archives: Rainwise

Spring 2019 Rainwise updates

Rainwise Inc. and NEWA continue to build on a partnership that began over 15 years ago. Read this article to see what Rainwise can offer NEWA growers in 2019.

Benefits of linking a weather station to NEWA

The Network for Environment and Weather Applications (NEWA) is part of the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program (NYSIPM) at Cornell AgriTech in Geneva, NY. NEWA is a collection of online insect pest and plant disease management tools built to provide growers with short-term crop risk assessments. Each tool or resource uses real-time weather data streamed from 600+ weather stations across the Northeast, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic United States and can be accessed at newa.cornell.edu.

Rainwise featured products and services

NEWA-compatible weather stations

Rainwise, Inc. offers their flagship model, the MKIII, to customers who want to link with NEWA. Customers connect to their online platform, Rainwise.net, and then send a simple request to the NEWA Help Desk where the onboarding process to http://newa.cornell.edu is completed.

To learn more or purchase a NEWA-compatible AgroMET MKIII flagship weather station, click here.

AgroMET & IP-100 Package

Rainwise.net platform

An AgroMET MKIII purchase includes the following standard features on Rainwise.net:

  • Data feed compatibility
  • Real-time data availability in the Rainwise.net platform.
  • A weather summary page with local forecasts provided by The Weather Company.
  • Basic data downloads in CSV format.
  • Data feed options for Weather Underground, CWOP, PWS Weather, and Weather Flow.

Owners can purchase an optional $60 upgrade to a Pro subscription for $60, which includes the following:

  • Everything listed in standard features.
  • Detailed graph summaries.
  • Data reports.
  • Enhanced download features.
  • Customizable alarms.

Did you know these things about Rainwise?

  • Rainwise, Inc. was the first company to patent the ‘tipping rain gauge’ in 1976. Accurate precipitation measurements are critical for agricultural industries. As of 2019, 90% of all precipitation measurements are gathered in this fashion (Figure 1).
  • In 1981, Rainwise, Inc. invented the first digital weather station for consumers. In 1996, the company invented the first wireless consumer weather station (Figure 2). This was a breakthrough for agricultural applications.
  • Rainwise partners with The Weather Company and IBM to gather microclimate data. Such a partnership strengthens the technology provided to NEWA agricultural users.

figure 1

Figure 1. Rainwise tipping gauge patent circa 1976.

figure 2

Figure 2. Rainwise wireless consumer weather station circa 1996.

Spring is coming – tune up your weather stations

The 2019 growing season will be here in another few weeks. Now is the perfect time to give your Rainwise weather stations a tune-up. Use the checklist below to make sure you are getting the best possible data feed from your machine.

If your Rainwise station is getting old (>6 years) consider replacing the machine if this decision suits your farm management needs. A 2017 online survey of current NEWA users found that 75% of growers are saving money on their spray bill with average annual savings of $4,329 from reduced pesticide applications and $33,048 in avoided crop losses.

To get in touch with Rainwise support for station servicing or replacement of your weather station sensor assembly please reach out to the RainWise Inc. Service Department for consultation by phone (207) 801-4039 or email service@rainwise.com.

Contact support@newa.zendesk.com with other questions regarding the online NEWA platform at newa.cornell.edu.

Spring weather station tune up checklist

Set a maintenance schedule. Check your weather station every 2 or 3 weeks through the growing season. Choose dates in advance and add to your calendar or planner.

Clean the solar radiation sensor. The diffuser can be cleaned with a damp cloth. Replace the sensor if has turned yellow.

Check the anemometer and weather vane. Make sure the anemometer (spinning fan) and weather vane move freely in all directions. Set the weather vane to zero on due North.

Check the leaf wetness sensor. Examine the plastic board and electrodes for corrosion, cracking or weathering damage.

Check the relative humidity sensor. Verify the accuracy of RH measurements by looking at NEWA values on mornings that are rainy or have heavy dew.

Clean the rain gauge. Remove leaves, nests, insect, spider webs and other debris. Set a schedule. Watch this video and learn more about tipping bucket maintenance.

Add a weather station to NEWA

Weather station owners who link with NEWA can testify to the usefulness of local real-time management information. Read this article to learn more about the process of linking a privately-owned weather station to NEWA.

Talk to your NEWA state coordinator

Contact your NEWA state coordinator before making any station purchase decision. NEWA partners with member states throughout the eastern and central United States to provide local grower support and expertise. Your coordinator can provide information specific to your state, answer questions about the NEWA platform, direct commodity questions to appropriate extension or university resources, and identify possible training opportunities for you.

View a list of NEWA state coordinators

Research your weather station options

NEWA models and tools require a specific configuration of weather station sensors to work. Understand all aspects of purchasing and maintaining a weather station before making the investment by reading our station buying guide and talking to our weather station vendor, Rainwise, Inc. Your NEWA state coordinator also has a lot of experience managing and maintaining his or her own machines, helping other growers in your state, and working with NEWA.

View the NEWA weather station buying guide

Weather stations are similar to any other investment on your farm. Tractors and combines require scheduled maintenance and checks throughout the season, and a long-term plan for capitalization. The same is true with a professional weather station. Understand upfront costs, maintenance, and calibration needs, as well as warranty coverage.

Talk to your NEWA state coordinator before making a purchase. Read the NEWA station buying guide. Talk to other growers you know who also have weather station linked to NEWA.

Purchase a weather station

When you are ready to purchase a station, contact Rainwise, Inc., the weather station vendor for NEWA. Review the NEWA station buying guide and understand specifications, add-ons, warranty coverage, maintenance requirements, and lifespan. Rainwise, Inc. is a weather station vendor that provides hardware and an online software platform (rainwise.net) to growers, from which NEWA gathers weather information to be used at newa.cornell.edu.

A note about NEWA and Rainwise, Inc.

You become a customer of Rainwise, Inc. after purchasing a weather station. NEWA is not affiliated with Rainwise, Inc., and does not receive monetary compensation or commission for weather stations purchased with the intent for use with NEWA.

The NEWA platform (newa.cornell.edu) is part of the New York State IPM Program at Cornell University. Rainwise, Inc. is a vendor of weather stations that are compatible with the NEWA. Questions about models and resources hosted at newa.cornell.edu should be directed to your NEWA state coordinator. If your state does not have a listed coordinator, reach out to NEWA staff directly at newa@cornell.edu.

Installation

Your weather station is sitting in a big box in your farm office. What now? Follow the advice of your NEWA state coordinator and Rainwise, Inc. regarding station installation and linking with rainwise.net. The process may vary slightly depending on the topography and layout of your farm.

Configuration

Several verification steps must be completed before NEWA can create a location at newa.cornell.edu using data from your rainwise.net weather station account. Finish these tasks before making a request to join newa.cornell.edu.

Verify your rainwise.net account settings

Talk to your NEWA state coordinator…again!

At this point, talk to your NEWA state coordinator again. He or she will need information about your location, station hardware, contact information, and confirmation that settings have been checked in rainwise.net, which operates independently of the NEWA platform at newa.cornell.edu.

Welcome to NEWA

If you follow the steps described above, communicate with your NEWA state coordinator, confirm weather station settings on rainwise.net, and provide needed station information, no further action is required. It takes three to five business days to link data coming from your account at rainwise.net to newa.cornell.edu and to verify that information is accurate.