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Website: http://btny.agriculture.purdue.edu/melcast
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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 muskmelon 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:

2008 MELCAST Locations and Station Codes
Location State Station Latitude Longitude Other
Daviess County IN IN-DAV 38.7000 87.1667 1 mile N of Washington on SR 57
Decker IN IN-DEC 38.5000 87.5000 2 miles NE of Decker
Elkhart County IN IN-ELK 32.6540 57.7880 2 miles NE of Wakarusa
Gibson County IN IN-GIB 38.2550 87.6833 1 mile S of Owensville on SR 65
Jackson County IN IN-JAC 38.8500 86.0833 1 mile N of Vallonia
Niles MI MI-NIL 54.7870 16.4160 6 miles N of Niles on M-140
Oaktown IN IN-OAK 38.8500 87.4667 2 miles SW of Oaktown
Randolf County IL IL-RAN 37.5705 89.5279 Southwest Illinois
Richmond IN IN-RCH 39.4949 84.5326 Downtown Richmond
Rockville IN IN-PAR 39.4555 87.1344 Downtown Rockville
Sullivan IN IN-SUL 39.0333 87.5500 7 miles W of Carlisle on SR 58
SW Purdue Ag Center IN IN-SWP 38.7500 87.4833 5 miles N of Vincennes
Vincennes IN IN-VIN 38.6333 87.5000 1 mile E of Lincoln High School
Wanatah IN IN-WAN 41.430 86.898 Downtown Wanatah

For More Information:
See these MELCAST publications for more information:
BP-64-W MELCAST: Melon Disease Forecaster (PDF - 939K)
BP-67 Foliar Disease Control Using MELCAST (PDF - 625K) 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 (141 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.
Department of Botany and Plant Pathology at Purdue University Administration