News

Cold, dry start to 2018 in much of the Heartland

Brownfield states generally started the New Year colder and drier than normal.

December was cold and dry for most of Illinois. The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service says average temperatures were about a degree colder than normal, while precipitation was nearly two inches below the usual mark. Most of the state still has adequate moisture and 56% of the winter wheat crop is in good to excellent condition.

Cold conditions for most of December allowed producers in Indiana to wrap up late harvest activity, but a late month deep freeze and a lack of snow cover in parts of the state are having an effect on crops and livestock. The USDA says on average, temperatures were more than two degrees colder than usual for the month and precipitation was more than one and a half inches below normal, stressing livestock, potentially damaging dormant winter wheat, and limiting movement on waterways. 75% of the winter wheat crop is rated good to excellent and 90% of the state has adequate to surplus soil moisture.

A late-December cold snap officially put an end to fieldwork in Iowa. Prior to the snow and drop in temperature, including wind chills of 30 below zero in parts of the state, the USDA says producers were able to fill, fix fences, apply fertilizer, and work on terraces and tiles. The warm weather during the first three weeks of the month also allowed producers to extend hay supplies with extra grazing.

The USDA says daily snow accumulation in parts of Michigan notched a few new records in December. That snow cover is keeping winter wheat insulated from lingering bitterly cold conditions. The USDA says there have been no reports of animal loss from the weather, but it is raising feed expenses and there are some concerns about damage to fruit trees.

December in Minnesota was on average only slightly colder and drier than normal, but bitter conditions at the end of the month led to more than thirty new low temperature records. That included a low of 42 degrees below zero at Cotton on the 28th. The USDA says there are concerns about winterkill in alfalfa and the effects on livestock.

The USDA says Missouri started 2018 in need of precipitation. More than half of the state’s soil is short to very short of moisture, in-line with the U.S. Drought Monitor’s declaration most of the state is abnormally dry. 79% of the winter wheat crop is fair to good, 57% of the state has adequate stock water, and 81% reports adequate hay and roughage for livestock.

Most of Nebraska’s winter wheat crop is in satisfactory shape, but will need precipitation as winter wears on. The USDA says 64% of the state’s winter wheat is rated good to excellent, with another 29% called fair, and while most of Nebraska has adequate soil moisture, enough of the state is short to create some concerns. The winter wheat crop will emerge from dormancy in spring.

The USDA says Ohio entered the year in generally good condition, but lower than normal precipitation and temperatures could be a problem if they persist. 80% of the state has adequate soil moisture levels, but December’s precipitation average was an inch and a quarter below normal and the average temperature was more than two and a half degrees colder than usual. 82% of winter wheat is in good to excellent shape and while the cold weather kept snow cover in place in many areas, high winds did expose some of the dormant crop.

South Dakota is in need of precipitation. The USDA says 46% of topsoil and 43% of subsoil have adequate soil moisture levels and the U.S. Drought Monitor indicates that except for parts of the border with Minnesota and North Dakota, most of the state ranges from abnormally dry to long term extreme drought. 63% of winter wheat is in good to excellent condition.

Cold conditions late in December are stressing livestock and poultry in Wisconsin. The USDA says that weather is creating issues with water and ventilation, while also making managing manure more difficult. Snowfall ranged from 3.7 inches in Madison to a foot in Green Bay. Some corn was also reportedly left in the fields.

The USDA will be issuing a monthly summary of crop conditions until weekly reports resume in April.