To start a new WeedCast Data file make sure that all of the input boxes are clear. Left click File on the main menu bar and then click New. This clears all of the input boxes on WeedCast's Main window.



You may then input the following parameters:

Site Name: Enter a descriptive name for the field or location that you will be running WeedCast on.

Site Properties:Click the site properties button on WeedCast's main window to display the site properties form. This form allows you to input the following starting environmental conditions: Note: If you are only interested in Seedling Height forecasts the site properties can be left blank.

• Last Years Crop:  From the combo box select one of the following choices: Corn, Soybeans, and Small Grain. This input is used by WeedCast in the conversion of air temperature to soil temperature.
  
  
• Tillage System:  Select the previous years tillage from the combo box. Tillage options available are, Moldboard Plow, Chisel Plow and No-till. The tillage parameter along with last years' crop are used in converting air temperature to soil temperature.
  
  
• Soil Type: Select the soil that best describes the soil conditions at the surface of the soil. The following soil types are available: Clay, Clay Loam, Loam, Sand, Sandy Loam, Silt Loam, Silty Clay.
  
  
• Latitude: Latitude values are used by WheatScout in order to calculate the number of hours of sunlight in a given day. This value is only needed for WheatScout. If .
• Soil Water Content:  Soil Water Content refers to the water capacity of the upper two inches of soil for the starting date selected on WeedCast's main form. WeedCast gives you two options to enter the soil water content. The first option is the combo box where you can select Very Dry - #, Dry - # , Moist - # or Wet - # (# signifies the corresponding numeric value). These numbers will change depending on the soil type selected. The second option allows you to enter a more precise numeric value if known. Values range from 0 to 30 for clay soils, and 0 to 10 for a sandy soil.

Weeds:  Select the weed or weeds that you wish to run the program.

Further Information:
Weed Forecasts Available
Selecting a Weed Species

Weather File: Each WeedCast data file has an associated weather file. Left click the button to browse for a weather file. This will launch the open dialog window.



Once you have located the weather file you wish to associate left click it and then left click the Open button. The link to the weather file will now appear in the Weather File text box.

Further Information:
WeedCast Weather Data
Creating a Weather File

Start Date and End Date: You may enter the Starting Date and Ending Date by either typing the date directly into the text box or by clicking the button and then selecting the date through the Calendar Window.

Further Information:
Start and End Date Information