The recent expansion of the Nebraska Mesonet system is expected to benefit farmers and ranchers. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln announced on Oct. 21, 2025, that it was able to add 21 new stations to the Nebraska Mesonet system after receiving $1.48 million. The funding came from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency and Lower Loup and Upper Elkhorn Natural Resources Districts.
“Adding more Nebraska Mesonet stations across the state will help farmers in determining when the soil temperature is warm enough to plant. Soil moisture readings are very important because irrigation is so prevalent in Nebraska. Irrigators want to know a combination of how much rain fell, and how much water is in the soil already, so they can calculate how much water to apply. The extra mesonet sites also help with ‘spraying weather,’ to determine if it’s too windy or too dry to spray… as well as for crop maturity — how many growing degree days there are to determine when a crop is ready for harvest,” said Ruben Behnke, Nebraska Mesonet manager/applied meteorologist.
Curtis Gotschall, who ranches with his son and daughter near Atkinson, Neb., checks the mesonet site every morning. That’s why he pushed for having a station nearby and donated the ground for one of the 21 new mesonet stations, which were installed this summer.
“The Heat Index gives us more info about humidity and temperature right in our area, and it’s very helpful in taking care of livestock. The Wind Chill factor is helpful in knowing if we need to put more hay out, since we cut prairie hay once and the humidity level is crucial. So having mesonet sites closer will help,” said Gotschall, who is a member of the board of the Upper Elkhorn Natural Resource District…