What is MELCAST?
MELCAST is a system whereby melon growers can determine the best time to apply fungicides. The MELCAST system uses scientific and localized weather data to determine when fungicide applications are best made. Melcast
Update (this web page) is intended to help cantaloupe and watermelon growers keep track
of daily MELCAST
EFI (Environmental Favorability Index) values that are calculated for several
state locations. Each issue highlights current disease problems and melon
management concerns. You should choose a MELCAST Station closest to your melon operation to obtain daily EFI values:
|
2024 MELCAST Locations and Station Codes |
| Location |
State |
Station |
Latitude |
Longitude |
Notes |
| Washington |
IN |
001-IN |
38.644232 |
-87.221626 |
2.6 miles east of the route 150/57 intersection, Washington, IN |
| Decker |
IN |
002-IN |
38.528849 |
-87.522616 |
1 mile north of Decker IN on route 241 |
| Princeton |
IN |
003-IN |
38.317830 |
-87.675383 |
3 miles south of the route 64/65 intersection west of Princeton, IN |
| Goshen |
IN |
004-IN |
41.530266 |
-85.950375 |
5 miles east of 3/40 intersection of Wakarusa on route 119. |
| Ft. Vallonia |
IN |
005-IN |
38.810381 |
-86.096330 |
2.6 miles south of Ft. Vallonia on route 135. |
| Oaktown |
IN |
006-IN |
38.894763 |
-87.446610 |
2 miles north of Oaktown on US 41 |
| Wanatah |
IN |
007-IN |
41.444172 |
-86.934266 |
2 mi NW of Wanatah, IN on S. County Rd. |
| Williamsburg |
IN |
008-IN |
39.946380 |
-85.030889 |
2.3 miles west of Williamsburg on W.E. Oler Road |
| Marshall |
IN |
009-IN |
39.844131 |
-87.138890 |
2.9 miles west of Marshall, IN on route 236. |
| Merom Station |
IN |
010-IN |
38.026143 |
-87.514287 |
1 mile east of Merom Station on W. County Road 400 S. |
| Purdue Ag Center |
IN |
011-IN |
38.742003 |
-87.486325 |
Southwest Purdue Ag Center, 2 miles north of the route 41/67 interchange, north of Vincennes, IN. |
| West Lafayette |
IN |
012-IN |
40.298722 |
-86.899945 |
9 mi S of West Lafayette, IN on route 231. |
| Vincennes |
IN |
013-IN |
38.622622 |
-87.511351 |
2.2 miles south of US 41/Decker St. interchange on S. Decker Rd. |
| Starlight |
IN |
014-IN |
38.413131 |
-85.8949 |
Starlight, IN near intersection of St. John's road and Starlight Road. |
| LaGrange |
IN |
015-IN |
41.639067 |
-85.5042 |
4.8 miles east of LaGrange, IN on State Route 20. |
| Hazelhurst |
GA |
01-GA |
31.89185472 |
-82.62855676 |
3 miles NW of Hazelhurst, GA on Lovers Leap Rd. |
| Lenox |
GA |
02-GA |
31.29678219 |
-83.5209914 |
5 miles NW of Lenox, GA on Albert Brady Rd. |
| Wooster |
OH |
01-OH |
40.80536305 |
-82.05389984 |
Wooster farm, 6.5 mi west of Wooster on Old Lincoln Way |
| Freemont |
OH |
02-OH |
41.33759927 |
-83.18686379 |
Freemont farm, 4 mi west of Fremont on Grand Army of the Republic |
| Williard |
OH |
03-OH |
41.01042815 |
-82.7313846 |
Williard Farm, 3.3 miles south of Willard on Route 103 |
| Niles |
MI |
02-MI |
41.8829 |
-86.26861 |
6 miles north of Niles on route 140. |
For More Information:
See these MELCAST publications for more information:
BP-64-W
MELCAST: Melon Disease Forecaster (English, PDF - 939K)
BP-67
Foliar Disease Control Using MELCAST (English, PDF - 625K) | Spanish Version
The record sheet linked below can be printed double sided on 8.5 x 14 inch paper to keep track of MELCAST values.
Download the Excel MelCast Record Sheet
Download the Free MELCAST Recordbook:
We have created an Excel version of the MELCAST pocket record book. This Excel spreadsheet helps growers keep track of MELCAST EFI values as they accumulate during the growing season, sprays made, and indicates when you are nearing spray thresholds.
Click here to download the free Excel MELCAST Recordbook (172 KB) - Updated 5/6/2005
To use, double-click on the downloaded file and choose "Enable Macros".
Windows Users: if you get a message that the "macros in this workbook are disabled because the security level is high or have not been digitally signed or verified to be safe" then follow these directions:
1) Go to the "Tools" menu and choose "Options..."
2) Choose the "Security" tab
3) Click on the "Macro Security..." button
4) Set the security level to "Medium" from the "Security Level" tab and click "OK"
5) Click "OK" to exit "Options"
6) Try opening the Melcast Recordbook again
Follow instructions on the "Help" page to start using the MELCAST recordbook. We'd appreciate any feedback.
Ask About Setting Up a New MELCAST Location:
No matter where you live, we can utilize latitude and longitude coordinates to gather daily weather satellite data that can input into the MELCAST system to generate daily EFI values. Ask us about getting a station started at your melon location.
Contact Us
Direct all questions or comments to Dan Egel egel@purdue.edu.
Please select a Melcast station above to view current EFI values. |
