When it comes to farming, especially high-value crops, the decisions you make every day can have a lasting impact on yield, quality, and your bottom line. While regional weather forecasts might suffice for weekend plans, they fall short when timing things like foliar sprays or overhead irrigation. That’s where field-specific weather data becomes a game-changer.

Bryce Sutherland, a crop advisor and owner of Ag Shots LLC in Georgia, knows this better than most. “You can’t rely on the weather 20 miles away when making decisions for your own field,” he says. “A cloud burst or a windy hour can be the difference between a successful application and a wasted one.”

Local Isn't Local Enough

Even within the same farm, conditions can vary drastically from one field to the next. A spray timed for optimal coverage in one block could be completely off for another. And relying on forecasts from the nearest airport or town? That’s a risky bet.

“It’s not just about rain or sun,” Bryce explains. “We look at humidity, wind speed, inversion layers, and more. If we don’t know what’s happening on the field, we’re just guessing.”

Field-specific weather stations, soil moisture probes, and digital tools have become essential in helping advisors like Bryce fine-tune their timing. By monitoring real-time conditions directly in the field, they can make informed decisions—whether it’s pausing irrigation to avoid disease pressure, or choosing the exact window for pesticide efficacy.

That's where Soiltech Beacons come in. Beacons, along with a couple of add-ons, can become excellent in-field weather stations, providing you with as accurate and specific as you can get!

Weather Spray Timing Tips

1. Spray Timing = Efficacy + Safety

• Conditions like wind speed, humidity, temperature, and time of day all affect how well a product works — and whether it stays on target.

2. Wind Speed Rules of Thumb

• Tractor speeds of over 10mph are risky.
• Some growers push limits out of necessity, especially when timing is critical. Don't!
• Consider drift risk – droplets landing 20-30 feet off target is not uncommon with high winds.

3. Humidity, Heat, & Herbicide Behavior

• High temperatures and humidity can increase herbicide activity (e.g., glufosinate works better at 85-90°F and sunny).
  
• But heat-stressed weeds might not absorb product well.
  
• Time sprays early in the morning when weeds are recovering.
  

According to Bryce, “Some days, it’s been over a week before we could even do anything — rain, wind, it all piles up. But better to wait than to spray and miss.”

A Precision Eye in the Sky

Bryce’s obsession with precision doesn’t stop at weather data. He’s also at the helm of a growing ag drone business, where he puts cutting-edge aerial tech to work for farmers across his region.

“Drones give us another layer of data—stand counts, NDVI, water stress, canopy development. All of that ties right back into when and where we spray or irrigate,” he says. “When we overlay drone imagery with our field-specific weather and soil data, we can make pinpoint decisions.”

Bryce uses drones to scout large acreages quickly and accurately, flagging problem areas before they become costly. And in many cases, the drones are also used for variable-rate applications—another tool in the precision ag toolbox.

The Takeaway: Data Wins!

At the end of the day, the message is clear: better data allows for better decisions.

“Guesswork doesn’t cut it anymore,” Bryce says. “Field-specific weather data and drone imagery give us the confidence to act—and the proof to measure results. That’s how you stay competitive.”

As weather patterns become more unpredictable and input costs continue to rise, tools like these aren’t just “nice to have”—they’re essential. For farmers looking to dial in their agronomic decisions, it all starts with knowing what’s happening, exactly where it matters most: the field.

Be sure to contact us to learn more about how Soiltech Beacons can be used as inexpensive, site-specific weather stations!