News

2025 drought concerns looming

Early indicators are pointing to an increased risk of drought in 2025.

Eric Snodgrass, chief atmospheric scientist with Conduit Ag, says he’s closely watching La Nina and the Bermuda High.

“We had a pretty epic fall drought.”  He says, “What happened in those years following weak La Nina and what happened in those years following fall drought, and we tended to find ourselves in a situation where the Bermuda High, which is our moisture pump in summer, just wasn’t home. It was off.”

He tells Brownfield factors can change before spring, but…

“If we do not see spring rains revive soil moisture, and if we don’t shake the cold water, especially in the Gulf of Alaska, or the weak La Nina, I think we could have a struggle with drought.”  He says, “I’ve never in my professional career kind of started to ring the alarm bell this early.”

Snodgrass says he’s currently predicting a 60% chance of significant drought next growing season.

Brownfield spoke with Snodgrass at the 2024 University of Illinois Farm Assets Conference in Champaign.

AUDIO: Eric Snodgrass – Conduit Ag