If you’re running a farm in the Philippines and you have a Davis weather station, you already have better weather data than most of your neighbors. But data you have to check manually is data you’ll miss. Here are five alert rules that every Filipino farm operation should have running automatically — and exactly how to set them up in WL Alert.

1. Heat Index Alert for Worker Safety

The most important alert for any farm with outdoor workers. When heat index climbs into the danger zone, workers are at serious risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke — and it can happen faster than people expect during the dry season.

Suggested rule: Heat Index greater than 42°C Recipients: Farm manager, safety officer, field supervisors Message: “Heat index at {{station_name}} is {{value}}°C. Limit strenuous outdoor work and ensure workers have access to water and shade.”

2. Rainfall Rate Alert for Irrigation Management

Overwatering after a rain event wastes water and can damage crops. An alert when rain rate crosses a meaningful threshold lets you pause irrigation schedules immediately — even if you’re not on-site.

Suggested rule: Rain Rate greater than 10 mm/hr Recipients: Irrigation manager, farm owner Message: “Rain rate at {{station_name}} is {{value}} mm/hr. Consider pausing irrigation systems.”

3. Wind Speed Alert for Spray Operations

Spraying pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers in high wind leads to chemical drift — wasted product, uneven coverage, and potential harm to adjacent areas or workers. Most agronomists recommend halting spray operations above 15–20 kph.

Suggested rule: Wind Speed greater than 20 kph Recipients: Farm manager, spray team lead Message: “Wind speed at {{station_name}} is {{value}} kph. Spray operations should be suspended until wind subsides.”

4. Low Temperature Alert for Cold-Sensitive Crops

Less common in the lowland Philippines but critical in highland farming areas like Benguet, Bukidnon, and parts of Mindanao — a sudden overnight temperature drop can damage cold-sensitive vegetables and flowers.

Suggested rule: Temperature less than 15°C Recipients: Farm owner, overnight site staff Message: “Temperature at {{station_name}} has dropped to {{value}}°C. Check cold-sensitive crops and consider protective covering if needed.”

5. Daily Rain Accumulation Alert

Knowing total daily rainfall helps you make better decisions about the next day’s field operations — whether soil is too wet for machinery, whether drainage systems need checking, or whether a dry spell is ending.

Suggested rule: Daily Rain greater than 50 mm Recipients: Farm manager, equipment operator Message: “Daily rainfall at {{station_name}} has reached {{value}} mm. Field conditions may be too wet for machinery. Check drainage and delay field operations if needed.”

Getting These Rules Running

All five of these rules can be set up in WL Alert in under 15 minutes. The Pro plan supports up to 40 rules across 10 stations with 2-minute polling — which is well-suited for an active farm operation that needs near-real-time awareness.

If you’re managing a larger operation across multiple sites, the Business plan supports 30 stations and 1-minute polling. And if your situation doesn’t fit neatly into any standard plan, reach out — custom arrangements are available.