AMES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa State University is updating its statewide network of automatic weather reporting stations.  ISU Extension agronomist Elwynn Taylor says the updated stations will provide information on soil moisture and crop water consumption, letting farmers know the limits being placed on crop yield “by water stress as the season progresses.”

The new stations are replacing units that have been in place for more than 30 years. The networked readings will be monitored on the Mesonet (http://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/ ).    The new stations also will measure rain, air and soil temperature, humidity, sunlight, wind speed and direction. The units will be solar powered.  The goal is to have at least one station in every county.