Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/708909
WINERY & VINEYARD EQUIPMENT 62 WINES&VINES August 2016 PRODUCT FOCUS Weather Stations Newest units help with irrigation, pest control and viticultural decisions By Andrew Adams W eather stations provide vital data for making irrigation decisions, managing vine growth and integrated pest management. Most can be incorporated into wider networks that monitor conditions like soil moisture and evapotranspiration, and they can be custom- ized for which weather data are recorded. Several of the stations listed here transmit data to a secure website where it can be downloaded to a desktop or mobile device. Solar panels are standard on some stations and an optional feature on others. Prices vary due to the type and sophis- tication of the sensors on the station, functionality and how data is collected, logged and disseminated. Several units also issue alerts when triggered by certain weather conditions. RANCH SYSTEMS The RB-WS station by Ranch Systems comes equipped with temperature and relative hu- midity sensors in a radiation shield, wind speed and direction sensors, rain gauge and a pyranometer to measure solar radiation. A required software subscription includes an online library of standard crop formulas such as mildew index and growing degree- days, but users can create custom indexes. Price: Starting at $3,000. ranchsystems.com ESI Environmental Sensors Inc. offers a modu- lar system of sensors that can be linked to- gether to relay data wirelessly to a central "gateway" that then uploads data to a web- site. ESI produces sensors for wind speed and direction, humidity, rainfall, solar ra- diation, leaf wetness and barometric pres- sure. Weather data is accessible via desktop computer or smartphone, and alerts can be issued via phone, email or text. Price: Inquire with supplier. esica.com TEXAS WEATHER INSTRUMENTS Texas Weather Instruments' Network Weather Station (NWS) posts local weather data to the web. The station can be powered with an external source or solar panel and comes with sensors for wind direction and speed, temperature, humidity, rainfall and baromet- ric pressure. Optional sensors include solar radiation, leaf wetness and soil moisture. Price for solar-powered unit: $1,899. txwx.com Western Weather