Weather maps that make a difference

March 16, 2018

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's (AAFC) Agroclimate Risk Team is hard at work creating new maps and improving existing ones to help farmers during the growing season. These maps easily illustrate soil moisture trends, drought, livestock feed shortages, and the impacts of flooding on farms across the country.

During the growing season, our scientists pore over satellite images, study weather data, talk with provincial and local government agencies, and listen to farmers' personal accounts to analyze and develop these maps. In the winter, they are busy planning for the upcoming year, tweaking their products and recruiting agroclimate impact reporters (AIRs) from across the country.

"We really rely on farmers being able to tell us what's happening on their farms and how the weather is affecting them over the growing season," says Patrick Cherneski, national agroclimate information service manager for AAFC. "The data are pooled so we can get an overall understanding for the regions and the country."

Becoming an AIR is quick, easy, and done online at Agroclimate Impact Reporter. Consider signing up. By adding your information and knowledge to our expertise, we can create maps and tools that make a difference.

To get an overview of all the climate-related tools and maps available online at AAFC, visit Drought Watch.