Extension

Emma White is the new agricultural outreach specialist for the Oklahoma Mesonet. (Photo by Mitchell Alcala/OSU Agriculture)

 

By Dean Ruhl

 

Oklahoma State University Extension welcomes Emma White as the new Mesonet agricultural outreach specialist. 

White joined the team in June 2025, helping promote Mesonet applications across the state and working with farmers and producers to utilize Mesonet data in their decision-making. 

 

“Many Oklahoma agricultural management strategies are linked to the weather,” White said. “I hope to be of help to the community to bring weather and agriculture together. The other part of it is the possibilities –– what can I do that we don’t already have for the community?”

White, born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, experienced the Mesonet system at the University of Oklahoma while earning her bachelor’s degree in meteorology. She then received her master’s degree at Iowa State University in agricultural meteorology — a unique degree with unique applications to the field. 

“When you can combine the powers of weather (that we can’t control) and agriculture, something that we can control, a lot is possible,” White said.

Early on, White showed a love for meteorology. As a child, she recalls reading the daily forecast in the newspaper. During breakfast, she would suggest what family members should wear based on the temperature. 

White’s knowledge can be applied expansively. Her knowledge covers everything from determining ideal soil temperatures for planting and harvesting specific crops to how diseases spread based on the temperature, rainfall or relative humidity. 

“We can predict how comfortable or uncomfortable cattle are and be able to get an estimate for how much water demand they are going to require,” she said. “When cattle are drinking 10 gallons of water a day, that’s something you need to be able to prepare for.”

Within the Mesonet’s Extension programming, White spends time traveling around the state, assisting farmers and producers to better understand the technology and data available through the Mesonet and how it can be practically used. 

“With the principles of physics and timing of the weather, we can predict what is going to happen with our crops,” White said. 

Oklahoma Mesonet, a joint project launched by Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma in 1994, still relies on the collaboration between the universities. 

White, who now has experience at both schools, serves as a liaison between the programs. She splits her time between Stillwater and Norman. 

“Weather and agriculture apply to all people, places and time,” White said. “So, I think it’s really cool that I have experience at both universities, and I get to bring the people together.”

In addition to her new role, White also appears weekly on “SUNUP”, helping viewers better understand the technology the Mesonet offers.