Abstract

Agriculture is a major contributor to Iowa’s economy, and many communities across the state rely on farming as their source of income. As weather patterns become more unpredictable, the need for tools that help farmers understand the environmental conditions on their land continues to grow. This article presents the I-Canopy sensor, a low-cost, solar-powered device designed to help farmers “listen” to their land’s microclimate. The sensor gathers real-time atmospheric data that users can access on their phones from anywhere. It has been developed at the University of Iowa since 2017 and has evolved through continuous collaboration and feedback from the farmers who host the sensors on their land. This article describes the outreach process that introduces the technology to the agricultural community and shows how farmers become citizen scientists by monitoring their sensor data and sharing their experience with our team. The goal of the project is not only to provide farmers with accurate, localized data but also to build a bridge between the agricultural and scientific communities. By working with farmers, we aim to create a tool that supports productivity and learning. This article also reflects on some of the challenges of introducing new technology to experienced farmers who often approach science from a different perspective than those working primarily in a lab setting.

Keywords

Sensor, Agriculture, Citizen Science, Community Outreach

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