Kansas Grain and Feed Association Annual Meeting

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Mike was a guest speaker at the KGFA's 2012 Annual Meeting at the Marriott in Wichita yesterday. Mike's presentation Global Warming vs. Climate-Proofing: What Really Matters to Your Business provided the answers the audience was looking for telling the KGFA audience that in the grand scheme of things climate is nothing but long-term weather. Mike explained how tools for agribusiness like AccuWeather's 25-day forecast and the European model of 10-day rainfall forecasts are a fresh and far more useful way to benefit your bottom line and that global warming is just not an issue for agribusiness at this time. Mike said the good news is that a large wheat crop is expected if we can get through the early harvest without a freeze.

Mike uses his skill as a genuine atmospheric scientist to explain that average global temperature and ocean heat content mean little to your business. What does matter to your business and its profitability is whether your mitigate the effects of extreme weather and capitalize on weather-related opportunities.
Mike's keynote speeches get rave reviews because every speech is tailored to the specific interests of the audience and sponsoring organization. Because of Mike's 22 years in television, he brings clarity and a theatrical polish to the podium. Quick-witted, Mike speaks without notes and loves questions and answers.

Comments

  1. Rob DaleMay 3, 2012 at 12:02 PM

    Mike - I notice you refer to the 25 day forecast, but research so far shows them to be FAR worse than climatology. How much value do agribusiness customers get out of something that is WORSE than climatology?

    ReplyDelete
  2. darlyMay 3, 2012 at 2:47 PM

    For NWS's tornado "experiment" you note that "The fact is we don't have the scientific skill to predict exact tornado locations and tornado intensities." as an argument as to why NWS should discontinue the experiment. Why doesn't that same logic apply for Accuweather's 25 day forecast, by which the same statement could be made for temperature that far out? Will accuweather provide the met community any information showing that these forecasts have skill?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Mike SmithMay 3, 2012 at 2:52 PM

    Darly,

    Thank you for your comment. I work for a subsidiary of AccuWeather called AccuWeather Enterprise Solutions and, as such, did not have involvement with the 25-forecast development and we are not involved in disseminating those forecasts.

    That said, I have spoken with developers of that product and they assure me it was extensively tested and showed skill. I would be happy to see any independent studies that indicate otherwise.

    Thank you for your comment.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Rob DaleMay 3, 2012 at 3:20 PM

    Mike - while I suppose I believe that you weren't part of the rollout, I wonder why you would be plugging it? Do you really believe anyone has the skill for a 25-day forecast? Several of us tracked the output until we realized it was FAR worse than climatology and threw in the towel. Can you get some of AW's verification studies in the meantime? But honestly - you think there is value in a 588 hour forecast of precise temps & POPs?

    ReplyDelete

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