Weather and Vegetable Production
Mother nature plays a unforgiving hand in successfull vegetable production.
Growers value predictable weather patterns because the growth rate of their vegetable crops depend on temperature, water
and light.
Weather is often THE factor which determines when growers can undertake cultivation, irrigation and pest control activities.
Commercial vegetable production in open fields also depends on predictable weather patterns to keep harvest dates in order.
Crops that mature too fast can catch-up to earlier plantings and all mature at the same time.
The result can be crops with great quality and yield ...
but very low prices.
These surplus crops may be 'turned under' if the grower believes the risk vs return does not justify the added costs of harvesting, packaging and distribution.
Unseasonally cold nights can delay crop growth, causing temporary shortages of some vegetables. Prices of scarce vegetable lines can skyrocket if growers cannot supply.
Weather forecasts also help
growers prepare for pests and disease outbreaks. Disease prediction is a very productive field of vegetable research.
Critical patterns of temperature and humidity can lead to outbreaks of many plant diseases including Downy Mildew, White Blister and Septoria.
Local Weather Stations
Growers in the Werribee Irrigation District have
received a helping hand as they struggle to stretch their scarce water supplies further.
A Victorian Government Grant has provided growers with the latest weather
information on crop growing conditions and water loss.
Local weather is available on this site and growers can receive a daily text message
on their mobile phones showing evaporation loss as well as
rainfall, temperature and humidity. |
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