Improving Flood and Agricultural Forecasts Act of 2024

This bill establishes the National Mesonet Program under the Commerce Department to improve flood and agricultural forecasts by expanding environmental data collection. It requires integrating commercial, academic, and local sensor networks (like soil moisture and stream gages) into a coordinated system, prioritizing underrepresented areas. The program allocates $50-70 million annually (2025-2029) to fund state, tribal, and private entities building weather-monitoring infrastructure, with 15% of funds dedicated to such partnerships. Recipients must share data through formal agreements to support weather predictions, emergency response, and agricultural planning for farmers, emergency managers, and transportation sectors.