Weather and satellite APIs for precision farming

By: Olga Makarova,
PR Manager, OpenWeather

Objectives

As farms mainly consist of crop fields, which can be hundreds of acres in size, much time and a great deal of resources are demanded of farmers in obtaining an accurate picture of the overall condition of these farms.

Drying out of plants or, conversely, an excess of moisture and a rise in the number of pests: these can all take their toll on the size and quality of the harvest and demand a rapid response. There are also such problems as the danger of overusing fertilisers, which poses a threat not only in terms of extra costs but also in that it is harmful to the environment and primarily to the health of farmers themselves.

To maximise harvests, constant monitoring is required throughout the season; and it is not easy finding the time to keep up with changes for each crop, not to mention monitoring the condition of every single acre. When deciding on long-term plans, a comparative analysis has to be carried out for both the usual course of the seasonal cycle and, in particular, any crises that have arisen.

To assess the current situation and to keep track of changes compared with preceding seasons and with the condition of neighbouring fields, accurate information on both the past and the present is needed, as well as future forecasts that are as precise as possible.

Solutions

There are currently numerous services that help with managing farms for any acreage: checking boundaries and nutrient and moisture intake, monitoring the negative effects of weather conditions and diseases, and controlling pest numbers. And this can all be done without having to visit the fields, just by using a phone or tablet screen or a PC.

It is exactly to provide these services that OpenWeather offers a wide range of APIs for different weather and satellite data combined in the one product, the Agro API, with universal and simple syntax.

What we offer

About the Agro API

Our product comprises a set of straightforward and user-friendly APIs that are easy to embed in farming applications. Each API is dedicated to its own particular area, which means the user can be flexible about how often the data is updated and receive only information that is necessary.

By using our satellite and weather data, the user can assess the condition of farmland in real time and start planning.

This product is also geared toward the insurance and banking sector and can be used as a farm rating tool.

We provide the full range of data from satellites and weather stations for monitoring the condition of farmland and for making subsequent decisions.

All data processing is carried out online.

Weather: Current, Forecast, History
Air temperature, humidity, wind speed, etc.. We provide not only current readings but also historical data for analysis and weather forecasts.

TSOIL & MSOIL: Temperature and Soil Moisture
Crucial indices allowing you to adjust irrigation work and prevent crop root damage

PA & TA: Accumulated Temperature and Precipitation
Temperature quantity index, expressed as the sum of diurnal temperatures exceeding a set threshold. Humidity quantity index, expressed as the sum of precipitation. This data is essential to decision-making regarding the date and favourability of conditions for sowing important crops.

NDVI & EVI: Normalised Difference Vegetation Index & Enhanced Vegetation Index
These are two of the most common indices allowing assessment of vegetation cover. We provide
current and historical data to allow analysis of vegetation growth rates and subsequent forecasting.

UV index: Ultraviolet Index
UV radiation has a direct effect on plant photosynthesis. Short-wavelength UV light in small quantities can increase the growth of certain types of plants and have a beneficial effect on further development, while constant exposure to medium-wavelength UV can kill crops. This index is useful for a complete analysis of potential agricultural land.

True and False Colour
Mainly used to show vegetation cover and differentiate it from urban land and any land not used for agricultural purposes. With these images it is also possible to distinguish between different types of vegetation.

Weather data can be requested for a polygon*.

We are offering you the chance to try out our free package. All you have to do is set up a user account** and you will receive a personal API key.

We have also put together paid services as part of which the user is provided with a wider range of functions, which you can find out about here.

* Currently, as part of the existing paid packages, we are providing data that is of the utmost relevance to agribusiness. Other territories can be added upon request.

** Users who are already registered can use their username and password for their new account.