Weather Data for Canadian Crop Insurance

Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation provides weather derivative programs that cover pasture and corn crops.

These programs are based on precipitation and temperature values during the growing season.

Filling in Gaps Between Weather Stations

Environment Canada provided only thirty official weather stations, which was not nearly enough to put every farm within 40 kilometers (approximately 24 miles) of a eligible weather station.

The task was to fill the gaps between weather stations of the met office (Environment Canada).

Grid of Redundant Rain Gauges Required

A dense grid of redundant rain gauges needed to be established with temperature and humidity sensors. Quality control of the data was also necessary to an extent that would allow the Insurance Company to make this data the sole basis for all payment claims.

Since 2005, Weather Innovations Consulting LP (WIN), has installed and maintained 101 ADCON Telemetry weather stations across Saskatchewan.

All incoming raw data undergoes a rigid quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) process before being submitted to SCIC. This process has been approved by an accredited meteorologist.

At each WIN station, there are dual temperature/relative humidity sensors and two tipping bucket rain gauges, measuring 0.2 mm per tip.

All data and communication is done through ADCON Telemetry GPRS RTUs with analog to digital conversion, and several days of data storage, with two independent loggers installed at each site for redundancy.

Regular Site Inspection Performed by Trained Personnel

WIN ensures field services meet crop insurance needs and standards. Quality weather monitoring programs require regular site inspection by trained personnel.

The weather stations are routinely inspected and maintained throughout the growing season with in-season station calibration and verifications as well as off-season re-calibrations and all verification documents completed.

WIN’s use of dual temperature sensors, precipitation gauges and the ADCON Telemetry datalogger and radios nearly eliminated missing values, and created a reliable set of data that both the Insurance company and its clients could fully trust.