The North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network (NDAWN), a division of the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, announces the successful completion of its $6.4 million, five-year grant project funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The grant, awarded in 2020, enabled NDAWN to either retrofit existing or build 85 weather stations in the Missouri River Basin of North Dakota. The upgraded network now provides comprehensive, real-time data on critical variables such as precipitation, soil moisture and snow water content—key factors in predicting flooding and drought impacts.

“This project has turned central and western North Dakota into one of the most robustly monitored regions for weather data in the world,” said Daryl Ritchison, NDAWN director. “The enhanced data collection will have a lasting impact on water resource management and agricultural productivity.”

The completed project, part of a larger five-state effort, equips the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with precise data to improve hydrologic forecasting and manage water resources across the Upper Missouri River Basin. By measuring snow moisture content and soil moisture, NDAWN’s upgraded stations address critical gaps in understanding water inputs, which are vital for spring flood forecasts and drought resilience.

“The ability to monitor snow water content and soil moisture in near real-time is a game-changer for flood and drought preparedness,” Ritchison added.

Beyond water management, NDAWN’s enhanced network supports farmers by providing data for agricultural models that predict crop and pest development, enabling timely management decisions to optimize yields and reduce pesticide use. The data is accessible to the public, media, educators and researchers via the NDAWN website at  https://ndawn.ndsu.nodak.edu/.

The completion of this project marks a significant milestone in NDAWN’s mission to deliver accurate, timely weather information to stakeholders across the region.

“This grant has not only strengthened our network but also reinforced our commitment to serving communities, farmers and policymakers with critical data to navigate the challenges of our highly variable weather we deal with in North Dakota,” said Ritchison.

North Dakota was the first state to finish their portion of the five-state collaborative project.

For more information about NDAWN and its contributions to the Upper Missouri River Basin, contact Daryl Ritchison at 701-231-8209 or daryl.ritchison@ndsu.edu.

About NDAWN

The North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network (NDAWN), established in 1989, operates over 250 weather stations across North Dakota, Minnesota and northeastern Montana. As part of the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, NDAWN provides detailed, real-time weather data to support agriculture, water management and other research.

NDSU Agriculture Communication – Sept. 26, 2025

Source: Daryl Ritchison, 701-231-8209, daryl.ritchison@ndsu.edu

Editor: Kelli Anderson, 701-231-6136, kelli.c.anderson@ndsu.edu