Weather system revamp hopes to bring sunshine to US economy

New legislation requires NOAA to improve weather research and forecasting, boosting industries from farming and airlines and improving the public warning system

Farmers have been obsessed with weather for thousands of years. Ancient Greeks and Babylonians sought guidance on planting and harvest by surveying the sky for patterns in clouds and stars and by communing with gods - through prayers and animal sacrifices. Modern-day farmers, such as Steve Pitstick, a fifth-generation farmer in Illinois, count on sophisticated instruments for predicting the weather instead.

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