The drought monitor report as of Tuesday, Jan. 28th is continues unchanged from the last several weeks. The six to ten-day outlook (Feb. 4 to 8) indicates a 33 to 40% chance of leaning above normal for temperatures and a 33 to 40% chance of leaning above normal for precipitation. The eight to 14-day outlook (Feb. 6 to 12) indicates near normal for temperatures and a continued 33 to 40% chance of leaning above normal for precipitation.
Today, as we continue to thaw out from the snow and subzero temperatures, let’s consider the benefits of our winters. While we may not be thrilled about this weather, farming in a temperate climate (four seasons) has definite advantages over subtropical and tropical climates.
• While not typically as long-lasting, snowy, and cold as areas north of here, we are cold enough and long enough to avoid many problems associated with the climates of say the Southeast U.S. and southern Texas. While we have had stretches of very cold weather, overall, our winters have been milder, much milder, over the last several decades with warmer average temperatures and less snow.
• One major advantage involves pest control. It’s not that we don’t have disease and insect pressure, but it would be much worse without winter. Extremely cold temperatures help decrease the populations of insects and arachnids that do overwinter here. A bigger benefit is that certain insects that are more problematic in the South can’t overwinter here. They either aren’t a problem or they must move here from the south - the sugarcane aphis outbreak several years ago is a good example. Since that outbreak, their migration here has been limited.
• Certain diseases such as wheat leaf and soybean rust also don’t overwinter here and have to move north. It’s not that we never have a problem with them but it’s sporadic and generally occurs later in the stage of the crop.
• We are still a wheat state and the hard-red winter wheat we produce needs to be vernalized, exposed to a period of cold, to flower. The amount varies by variety but as we are colder than Oklahoma and Texas, we have more options. But we aren’t as cold as somewhere like the Dakotas where spring wheat is typically planted. And snowfall helps insulate the soil and protect the growing point from freeze damage. And as it melts, it slowly moves into the soil providing valuable moisture during a typically dry time.
• One more advantage is in soil structure, especially with soil moisture. The freeze thaw cycle here helps break up soil and produce better soil structure. It also helps physically weather larger particles and over time they will become soil particles.
One last advantage involves water use. Without winter, our need for precipitation and groundwater would be even higher in the western half of the state.
Dr. Victor L. Martin is the agriculture instructor/coordinator for Barton Community College. He can be reached at 620-792-9207, ext. 207, or martinv@bartonccc.edu.
