Weather stations network advances digitalization in agricultural landscapes of Saxony-Anhalt
In the heart of Germany, the state of Saxony-Anhalt is making significant strides in digitalizing agriculture. One of the latest initiatives involves the establishment of a new weather station in Groß Germersleben, which farmer Sven Borchert considers a significant step forward.
The new weather station, presented with representatives from the State Agency for Agriculture and Gardening (LLG), aims to provide current and reliable weather data for both agricultural administration and businesses. This data will flow directly and securely to the Service Center Rural Area Rhine-Hesse-Nahe-Hunsrück (DLR R-N-H), a key partner in this venture.
The expansion of agricultural meteorological measurement networks in Saxony-Anhalt significantly supports the digitalization of agriculture. Precise, localized climate and weather data enable better-informed decisions on crop management, irrigation, and risk mitigation. These enhanced data networks allow the integration of real-time meteorological information into digital farming tools and decision support systems, improving the accuracy of agricultural forecasts and optimizing resource use.
The weather data from Saxony-Anhalt will be used for forecast models of the official plant protection service, helping predict pest infestation and plant diseases more accurately. This targeted use of plant protection products is beneficial for the environment, yield, and efficiency. The use of these forecast models will allow for more targeted and sparing use of plant protection products.
The new weather station in Groß Germersleben is one of eight digital measurement points added to the existing network of 47 weather stations (44 from DWD and 3 from ALFF South). This contributes to adapting farming practices to local weather variability and extreme events, such as droughts or heavy rain, thereby increasing resilience and efficiency in agriculture.
Sven Borchert, a farmer in Saxony-Anhalt, emphasizes the importance of location-specific weather data for making well-founded decisions in farming. He uses the weather data from the new station daily for decision-making in farming activities.
The state of Saxony-Anhalt closely cooperates with the DLR R-N-H within the framework of the GeoBox infrastructure. The weather data from Saxony-Anhalt will also be provided in the partner network of the German Weather Service and will be quality-assured and fed into the "Integrated Plant Production (ISIP)" system.
The presentation of the new weather station took place in Magdeburg, with State Secretary of Agriculture Gert Zender officially unveiling the station. This move is part of Saxony-Anhalt's ongoing efforts to expand its agricultural meteorological measurement network, underpinning agricultural innovation and digital transformation efforts in the region.
The weather data from Saxony-Anhalt will be usable nationwide for agricultural meteorological consultations, further cementing the state's role in driving digital agriculture forward. This connectivity between meteorological measurements and digital systems exemplifies how expanding such networks underpins agricultural innovation and digital transformation efforts in Saxony-Anhalt.
The new weather station, established in cooperation with the State Agency for Agriculture and Gardening (LLG), aims to provide precise, localized climate and weather data that will be integrated into digital farming tools and decision support systems. This integration will foster the use of real-time meteorological information in environmental-science, environmental conservation, and economic and social policy, particularly in the agricultural sector.
In the context of the GeoBox infrastructure, the weather data from Saxony-Anhalt will be quality-assured and provided in the partner network of the German Weather Service. This data will be instrumental in various scientific domains, such as technology and environmental-science, for improving resource use, optimizing crop management, and enhancing agricultural forecasts nationwide.
