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Kestrel® Library
Kestrel Pocket Weather Meters & Agriculture (See more Kestrel applications)
| Spraying |
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Relative humidity, wind speed and wind direction are all critical
measurements for ensuring safety and effectiveness when spraying.
Many locales have regulations specifying maximum permitted wind
speed when spraying to minimize spray drift.
Every single Kestrel
model offers fast and certified-accurate wind speed measurements
in a unit that fits conveniently into your pocket, making it
easy to be in full regulatory compliance. In hot, dry conditions,
evaporation can send your expensive chemicals uselessly into
the air rather than onto your crops. In these conditions, selecting
an appropriate nozzle and increasing the spray droplet size can
minimize costly evaporation. Kestrel models are available to
measure dry bulb temperature, wet bulb temperature, Delta T,
relative humidity and dew point temperature. Every Kestrel humidity
measurement uses our patented fast-acting humidity sensor with
accuracy guaranteed through a two-point calibration. Wet bulb
temperature is pressure-corrected to ensure accuracy even at
high altitudes and low humidity.
If your application requires
documentation of the weather conditions, use the Kestrel 4000's
2000-point memory to conveniently store all environmental information
with the single press of a button, and later upload your stored
data to a computer to create a log of spraying conditions (requires
optional interface). |

Kestrel 3500 Delta T
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| Barn Ventilation |
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Proper ventilation and temperature and humidity control of livestock
facilities can reduce disease and prevent stock loss, as well
as improve your rate of gain and feed-conversion efficiency.
A Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter lets you measure the conditions
that matter most - air velocity, temperature, and relative humidity
— right where your stock are experiencing them. The Kestrel
4100 even includes a built-in volume airflow ("CFM")
calculator so you can monitor the performance of your ventilation
equipment. Add a sturdy belt carry case to ensure your have your
Kestrel with you to spot check conditions at any time, helping
you ensure your stock's safety and health. |
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| Irrigation Audits |
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Inefficient irrigation systems are costly: they waste water, wash
off fertilizers and lawn chemicals, and degrade sidewalks and
roads prematurely. When conducting audits of an irrigation system's
efficiency, it is critical that the Irrigation Technician monitor
wind speed and direction, temperature and relative humidity during
all phases of the audit.
There's no easier way to do this than
with a Kestrel Pocket Weather Meter. The ultimate tool for this
job is the new Kestrel 4500 together with a tripod and Kestrel
Vane Mount. The data log is ideal for use in the field,
and the computer interface makes log entries and report development
a snap back in the office. |
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| Viticulture |
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Vineyard managers can monitor the weather right at the individual
vine with a Kestrel Pocket Weather
Meter. Wind speed, air temperature,
relative humidity and dew point are all important measurements
in the vineyard. In the spring and fall, knowing the temperature
trends and dew point is critical to determining the need for
frost protection. If the air is dry (low dew point) heat loss
will be greater than when the air is moist, and the threat of
a radiation freeze goes up. Dew point and temperature also affect
leaf wetness, which influences the development of downy mildew.
The Kestrel's wind speed readings ensure that spraying is done
safely and effectively during appropriate environmental conditions.
A Kestrel Pocket Weather Meter is also a valuable tool when planning
your vineyard. Tracking conditions at potential vine locations
can help you develop an accurate understanding of your property's
microclimates and select the varietals and growing sites that
will ensure success. |
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| Crop Harvesting |
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| Keeping an eye on the current and developing environmental conditions
can help farmers determine the best time to harvest crops. Whether
you grow corn, soybeans, hay or grain, a Kestrel Pocket Weather
Meter makes it easy to monitor field conditions real-time to
ensure selection of the ideal conditions for maximizing your
harvest and crop quality. Rugged and portable, it fits perfectly
in a pocket, and is so affordable that it won't break the bank. |
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| Livestock Heat & Cold Monitoring |
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Heat stress can cause reduced productivity and even death in livestock.
The effects of severe heat stress are often seen in the form
of reduced reproductive performance, reduced daily weight gain
and reduced milk production. By using a Kestrel to monitor temperature
and humidity, and referring to the heat index appropriate for
your livestock (indices exist for cattle, swine, turkeys and
laying hens), a farmer can take necessary cooling measures in
time. Cooling measures include increasing ventilation, making
plenty of drinking water available, misting the animals, avoiding
transport and movement, and withdrawing feed. Wind chill is equally
important in the winter. A cow's energy requirements are estimated
to increase 1% for each degree the wind chill is below 32°F,
and the effect is even more severe for a wet cow. These increased
energy requirements have to be made up in additional feed or
the animals will fail to thrive.
Every Kestrel model from
the 2000 on up includes wind chill measurement, letting you know
when it is critical to provide additional feed energy and/or
wind protection. |
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| Golf Course Management & Landscaping |
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| The Kestrel 1000 is the perfect tool to get an accurate assessment
of air movement, which is vital for healthy turf in areas where
surface cooling is needed. Proper air movement reduces leaf wetness,
which prolonged periods of time increase the likelihood of fungal
diseases. A constant air movement of just 3 mph coupled with
adequate soil moisture can reduce the need for pesticide use
and keep turfs up to par. |
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| FAQs |
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Get the answer to this and other questions at NK's:

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Kestrel Pocket Weather Meters & Agriculture Brochure (PDF)
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What is Delta T?
Delta T is the spread between the wet bulb temperature and the
dry bulb temperature. Delta T offers a quick guide to determining
acceptable spraying conditions. For example, it is not
recommended to apply pesticides when Delta T is above 10 - a
range of 2 to 8 is ideal. With the new Kestrel 3500 Delta
T, the calculation is done for you, accurately and simply. The
Kestrel 3500 Delta T incorporates barometric pressure correction
in its wet bulb temperature calculation, ensuring accuracy even
on low pressure days, at high altitudes, and in the very dry
weather when Delta-T monitoring is important. No other
hand-held weather meter offers this feature with this level of
accuracy.
Does Heat Stress affect livestock differently than people?
Actually, it does. The chart below from Iowa State University
Department of Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering outlines the
levels at which heat stress can threaten hens. Charts for other
animals can be found here on their website.

What's so great about the Kestrel impeller?
The Kestrel impeller measures 1 inch across, and turns on a Swiss
precision pivot mounted on sapphire bearings. Its large size
ensures accurate readings even if pointed off-angle from the
wind, and its very low start-up speed allows measurement of the
lightest puffs of wind. If damaged, a new calibrated impeller
can be purchased for $19 and popped in without tools, restoring
like-new performance.
How does the Kestrel measure humidity so accurately?
The Kestrel features a patented dual temperature sensor configuration
for rapid response and accurate measurement. Every Kestrel is
calibrated against NIST-traceable standards, and can be recalibrated
in the field with the Kestrel RH kit.
What's that curly looking thing?
That's the patented Kestrel temperature sensor. Unlike most watches
and other products with temperature measurement, the Kestrel
sensor is outside the case to ensure it measures the air, not
your hand or pocket. The "curls" serve to further isolate
the temperature sensor from the effects of the case temperature.
How does the Kestrel measure altitude?
The Kestrel uses an atmospheric pressure sensor and calculates
altitude based on a standard atmosphere. This is just like the
altimeter in an airplane, or an altimeter watch. It's more accurate
than a GPS altimeter, but does require periodic reset of the
reference pressure to eliminate weather effects.
Does the Kestrel have a GPS in it?
No, not yet. We may add basic GPS location to a future Kestrel
model, but we'll leave the full-blown mapping and navigation
to the companies that specialize in GPS as much as we specialize
in weather.
Do you really mean MADE in the USA?
Yes. The entire Kestrel line is designed and built in the USA.
Some electronic components have to be sourced overseas these
days, but we buy American wherever we can.
Who do I call if I have a problem?
You call us! From our Customer Service Representatives to
the President of the company, we all answer the phone and know
these products inside and out. If you have a problem, we'll
fix it. Kestrels hardly ever break, but if they do, they're covered
by a 5-year warranty. |
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