As heat and humidity build across Wisconsin, dairy producers are using a new tool to mitigate the severe weather’s effects. Chris Vagasky, the Research Program Manager for Wisconet, oversees Wisconsin’s Environmental Mesonet. The network utilizes 79 weather and soil monitoring stations statewide, with each station capturing more than a dozen measurements every five minutes. Wisconet shares this data with dairy researchers, who study which weather factors best keep cows cool and comfortable.
The system calculates health indices, including the Cattle Comfort Index and the Temperature-Humidity Index, for every station. Producers can access these numbers directly on the Agricultural Tools Dashboard. Once managers open the dashboard, they select their specific geography to view their local “Cattle Comfort Index.” This index tells farmers exactly how hot or cold their cattle feel by combining air temperature, humidity, wind speed, and sunlight into a single “feels like” rating.
Vagasky notes that the system prompts quick action from dairy operators. When the index surpasses 85 degrees, it signals that farmers should halt livestock movement and avoid crowding. An index above 105 degrees warns of potential livestock death. While producers focus on heat right now, they can apply the exact same tool during the winter. In fact, producers have already provided positive feedback, particularly regarding how the tool protects young livestock during freezing temperatures.
Wisconet isn’t the first to pursue this customized weather approach. Vagasky says systems like this have been developed around the world where weather events can have a devastating impact on agriculture. Wisconsin is not purely developing tools in the laboratory or using others models. Vagasky says right now they’re continuing to “teach the tool” how to be better by partnering with several Wisconsin dairies that are putting theory into practice. Currently they’ve partnered with dairy operations in Brillion, Darlington, De Pere, Durand, Marshfield, Montana, Rice Lake, and Wittenberg.
Leave a Reply