2026-2027 Weather Station Grant Program
Overview
This weather station grant program was initiated by the OSU Fruit Pathology and Specialty Crop Entomology programs and funded by the Ohio Grape Industries Committee (OGIC) to encourage the use of weather data to support disease and insect pest management in the vineyard.
Purpose
Monitoring weather is vital for effective plant disease and insect pest management. Access to an weather station will allow growers to monitor weather conditions (e.g. temperature, rain, wind speed and direction, leaf wetness, solar radiation) in their vineyard in real-time, use the integrated pest management (IPM tools) available through the network for environment and weather applications (NEWA), improve fungicide and insecticide application timing, and provide vineyard specific data to regulators in the case of herbicide drift injury.
Grant Funding The program will cover $1,029 towards the base price of a HOBO weather station starter kit that is compatible with NEWA. Growers are responsible for shipping fees, the cost of additional sensors or other add-ons that are not included in the starter kit, and cellular charges.
Approved applicants will not be reimbursed under this program until all requirements have been met. Failure to complete all requirements set forth in the guidelines will disqualify an applicant from receiving any grant funding.
When all funding requirements have been met the grower will assume ownership of the weather station.
Reimbursement Coordination
The OGIC will be responsible for making the final funding decisions. All questions regarding the reimbursement should be directed to the OGIC Executive Director, Christy Eckstein.
Guidelines
The grant program is intended to provide support for those individuals who are serious about using weather data and associated IPM tools through NEWA to make disease and insect pest management decisions. To be eligible for funding through the Weather Station Grant
Program growers must meet the following requirements:
1.Growers must complete and submit an “Intent to Participate” by July 31, 2026.
2.Only growers with vineyards located in Ohio may apply for assistance.
3.Only HOBO weather stations may be purchased using program funding. See weather station description in Appendix A.
4.The weather station must be placed in the vineyard if feasible, or at minimum within 50 feet of the vineyard boundary.
5.The weather station must be connected (onboarded) to NEWA.
6.Weather station data must be publicly available through the NEWA website.
7. The reimbursement form must be completed and submitted by June 30, 2027.
The grower feedback survey must be completed by September 30, 2027.
2026-2027 Weather Station Grant Program Timeline
Program announcement July 7, 2026
Intent to Participate form deadline July 31, 2026 (by 4:30 pm EST)
OGIC review August 19, 2026
Grower notification of funding August 21, 2026
Purchase and install weather station deadline April 30, 2027
Onboard weather station with NEWA deadline May 14, 2027
Reimbursement form deadline June 30, 2027
Grower feedback survey disseminated September 1, 2027
Last day to complete grower feedback survey September 30, 2027
Appendix A – Weather stations that qualify for the 2026-2027 Weather Station Grant Program
NEWA is a partnership of New York State Integrated Pest Management, Northeast Regional Climate Center, and The Ohio State University - CFAES. NEWA works with HOBO Data Loggers and KestrelMet, which are configured for NEWA’s agricultural production tools.
Only the HOBO weather station starter kit qualifies for the Weather Station Grant Program. The annual NEWA membership fee is supported by Dr. Melanie Lewis Ivey, OSU Fruit Pathology Program.
HOBO Starter Kit
The prices listed were retrieved on 7/1/2026 and may change.
$999RX2106 MicroRX Station
$199 Advanced Monitoring with Standard Sensor Support RX-Standard (Cellular data plan required)
$199 Leaf Wetness Smart Sensor S-LWA-M003
$229 Temperature/Relative Humidity Smart Sensor S-THC-M002
$75 Solar Radiation Shield RS3-B
$299 Solar Radiation (Silicon Pyranometer) Smart Sensor S-LIB-M003
$55 Light Sensor Bracket M-LBB
$60 Light Sensor Level M-LLA
$405 Davis® Wind Speed and Direction Smart Sensor S-WCF-M003
$299 Davis® 0.01" Rain Gauge Smart Sensor S-RGE-M002
SUB TOTAL: $2, 849
5% NEWA discount: $142.45
TOTAL: $2, 706.55
For more information on the HOBO weather stations contact Matt Sharp (matt.sharp@licor.com; 774-712-9943).
For more information on NEWA and onboarding to NEWA please contact Melanie Lewis Ivey (ivey.14@osu.edu; 330-263-3849).
2026-2027 Intent to Participate in Weather Station Grant Program Form
To be eligible for funding through the Weather Station Grant Program the “Intent to Participate” form must be received by July 31, 2026, by 4:30 PM EST. Late applications will not be accepted.
Contact Information
Grower Name:
Grower Mailing Address:
Phone Number:
Email Address:
Vineyard Information
Vineyard Name:
Vineyard Address:
County:
Vineyard Acreage:
Weather Station Information
Description of recommended location of weather station within vineyard:
Return no later than Friday, July 31, 2026, by 4:30 PM EST to: Ohio Grape Industries Committee - c/o Christy Eckstein 8995 East Main Street, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068 Phone: (614) 381-0412 ~ Fax: (614) 466-7754 christy.eckstein@agri.ohio.gov
2026-2027 Weather Station Grant Program Reimbursement Form
To be eligible for funding through the Weather Station Grant Program growers must complete the reimbursement form and attach proof of purchase including a copy of the original invoice and proof of payment (i.e., voided cheque, credit card statement, bank statement, receipt showing $0 owing) of the weather station.
The form must be completed and received by June 30, 2027.
Contact Information
Grower Name:
Grower Mailing Address:
Phone Number:
Email Address:
Weather Station Information
Date weather station purchased:
Weather station Make and Model number:
Date weather station onboarded to NEWA:
Cost of weather station starter kit:
OFFICE USE ONLY Date grower feedback survey completed:
Return no later than Friday, June 30, 2027, to: Ohio Grape Industries Committee - c/o Christy Eckstein 8995 East Main Street, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068 Phone: (614) 381-0412 ~ Fax: (614) 466-7754 christy.eckstein@agri.ohio.gov