As an Agronomist at AgSource Laboratories, Tim Boerner relies on good weather reporting to make recommendations to his clients. That’s one reason he’s been a CoCoRahs weather reporter for over 15 years. The big push is on to sign up volunteers to be rain fall reporters, and as someone who has volunteered to do the job for a long time, Tim says there is plenty of rewards for the effort.
Boerner says that he’s made reporting rainfall part of his daily routine. Each morning he walks his dog and checks the gauge. Quickly entering the info into the website. And the days without rain? He records them too. The “Be a hero, report a zero” campaign launched by CoCoRahs reminding reporters that no rain also should be reported, has stuck in his mind. But the bottom line for Tim is that he enjoys sharing and observing the weather reports.
As an agronomist Tim says the weather reporting data comes in handy. Not only to make adjustments to the day to day plans on the farm but it also gives him something to talk about with his clients. Farmers like to talk weather and Tim likes to know who got what when it comes to precipitation.
With many rural people stepping up to volunteer to report rainfall, there could be the worry that there’s just too much data. But Tim says there really is no such thing as too many rainfall reporters. Precipitation amounts vary greatly even in relatively small areas. There is a need for reporters all over the state and an extra need in the Northern counties.
There’s not a lot of equipment needed to report rainfall amounts, a good rain gauge is key. Placing the gauge in an area where what it collects won’t be affected by overhangs, trees or buildings is important. You can learn more about the requirements and collection guidelines as well as sign up on wisconsinweatherwatchers.org.
