Drought
If new predictions hold true it could be a hotter than normal summer across much of the U.S
Has the rain in parts of the country encouraged producers to start rebuilding the cow herd? How are the markets being affected by both dry and wet conditions right now?
You Can Now Blame El Niño and La Niña For the Extreme Weather Outbreaks, Planting Delays This Spring
From the slew of tornado outbreaks since late April, to more planting delays across the U.S., the extreme weather is caused by a combination of weather phenomena, including the quick switch from El Niño to La Niña.
There’s now a 60% chance La Niña will develop between June and August and an 85% chance it’s in effect by November 2024 to January 2025, according to NOAA.
The U.S. Drought Monitor shows drought coverage is now at its lowest level since spring of 2020, but USDA’s topsoil moisture map shows it’s still extremely dry in areas of the west and too wet in the east.
Two consecutive years of drought has been devastating for farmers in West Texas, and with forecasts of a transition to La Niña, economists and cotton leaders say it will force even more cotton farmers to call it quits.
It’s been said high-yielding corn needs 25" of moisture per acre per year. In 2023, when Mother Nature didn’t cooperate, management strategies to retain moisture coupled with new traits made a difference at harvest.
Before heading to the field to apply anhydrous, firm up what crop you’re going to plant. Growers have been kicking around the idea of going beans-on-beans, given the markets. But anhydrous essentially ties you to corn.
Jim Rothermich of Iowa Appraisals shares what he expects from land values in the year ahead.
While you can’t make Mother Nature send rain, you can review crop-rotation restrictions on chemistries you applied last year. Knowing that information can guide what crop you plant where this spring.