35 Better Farming | August 2024 Follow us on @BetterFarmingON underwriting weather-related coverage policies. When it comes to risk assessments and understanding climate change, you can never have too many data points. The CoCoRaHS rain gauge has three parts: A funnel, a central graduated cylinder, and the main canister. The funnel fills the central tube first, which is exactly one inch of rainfall. The cylinder has two notches at the top to allow it to overflow into the canister. To record rainfall in the event there is more than one inch of rain, remove the funnel, pull out the cylinder and dump an inch of rain out. Detach the canister from the post, carefully pour the remaining water into the cylinder, and record the amount. Add them together, open the app and enter the value. Put the gauge back together and get ready to do it again. If there is no rain the next day, open the app and enter zero. Try to do this daily at the same time each day. The number of events is as important as the amounts. Recording rainfall is a lag measure; it records what is received. We often lament we need better forecasting to know what’s coming. Forecasting is slowly improving from three hours ahead to close to a week. Large models and artificial intelligence are improving the analysis of satellite weather data. I think the real point of recording rainfall is not so much about the amount but how quickly we can return to the field to resume activities. Which farm practices are increasing water infiltration rates, storing more plant-available water, increasing resiliency, stabilizing yields and increasing the number of field working days? BF Visit your local ECHO Dealer for more information: Ancaster, Crossroads Equipment .................... 905-648-8001 Ayr, Ayr Turf & Trac ............................................ 519-632-9901 Barrie, McGill Equipment ................................ 705-503-7732 Brant County, Town & Country Sales & Service.. 519-484-2901 Brantford, Antler, A Davey Company ............... 519-753-6433 Brodhagen, B&K Tire and Battery ................... 519-345-2248 Burgessville, G.J.’s Harvest Centre Inc. ......... 519-424-9374 Castleton, Doug’s Small Engines ................... 905-349-3027 Chesley, Robert’s Farm Equipment ................ 519-363-3192 Courtland, Blue West Equipment ................... 519-688-0909 Dundas, WPE Landscape Equipment .............. 905-628-3055 Dunnville, R.E. Egger Truck & Machine .......... 905-774-1060 Grimsby, Ag & Turf Power Service ................... 905-945-4848 Hamilton, Outdoor Supplies & Equipment ..... 905-578-2411 Havelock, Belmont Engine Repair .................. 705-778-3838 Ingersoll, Ken’s Small Engines ....................... 519-425-4466 Maxwell, Maxwell Farm Service ................... 519-922-2108 Meaford, Robert’s Farm Equipment................ 519-538-1660 Millbank, Zehr’s Sales & Manufacturing.......... 519-595-7579 Milverton, G.J.’s Harvest Centre Inc. ............... 519-603-8374 Mississauga, WPE Landscape Equipment .... 905-569-2055 New Dundee, Coleman Equipment ................. 519-696-2213 North Bay, Hamelin’s Outdoor Power Equipment .. 705-497-8676 Orillia, Allan Byers Equipment ........................ 705-325-2746 Owen Sound, Bobcat of Grey Bruce ............... 519-372-9100 Pembroke, AJ’s Power Products ................... 613-735-6788 Rockwood, Connect Equipment ..................... 519-856-9512 Stirling, McIntosh Motors ............................... 613-395-3757 Vars, M.R. Blais Sales & Service...................... 613-443-1230 Walton, Robert’s Farm Equipment ................. 519-887-6365 Windsor, Vehicle Venture ................................. 519-966-8642 $69995 STARTING AT MSRP CS-590 59.8 CC REAR-HANDLE CHAINSAW Available in 18”, 20” & 24” bar lengths $61995 STARTING AT MSRP CS-4920 50.2 CC REAR-HANDLE CHAINSAW Available in 16”, 18” & 20” bar lengths PB-7910 H/T 79.9 CC BACKPACK BLOWER $869 95 FOR ONLY! MSRP The ECHO X Series PB-7910 expands ECHO’s lineup of commercial-grade high-performance backpack blowers by providing higher power at a lower price point than competitive models. It features an advanced 79.9cc 2-stroke engine. $1,72995 STARTING AT MSRP CS-7310 73.5 CC REAR-HANDLE CHAINSAW Available in 20”, 24”, 28” & 23” bar lengths $77995 STARTING AT MSRP CS-2511P 25.0 CC REAR-HANDLE CHAINSAW Available in 12” & 14” bar lengths INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCE AND VALUE PERFORMANCE & RELIABILITY ECHO.CA crops: yield matter$ DALE COWAN Dale is agronomy strategy manager and senior agronomist for AGRIS Co-operative. He has been a regular contributor to Better Farming since its launch in 1999. CCA-ON, 4R NMS.
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