This Week In Ag #155
In like a lion, out like a lamb. That’s how March weather has long been described. But farmers don’t care if they hear a roar or a baa right now, as long as they hear thunderclaps. And lots of them.
Over 2/3 of the USA is experiencing at least moderate drought conditions; one-quarter of the country is in a severe drought or worse. This goes beyond the usual suspects. No parts of California are even affected.
I saw planters rolling in Texas last week. We’re weeks away from seeing widespread field work across the fruited plain. And much of the USA’s major crop-growing regions are seriously impacted by low moisture.
Over 80% of Illinois is in a drought, 35% in severe drought and 13% in extreme drought. These severe/extreme areas are located in the middle of the Prairie State, home to the most fertile soil in the world. This severe drought swath extends across the top farmland of Indiana. It also impacts the Cornhusker State, where 77% is in drought and Missouri with 56%.
Among the SEC states, the only thing drier than their recent college football fortunes is their soil. Over 98% of Arkansas is in a drought. Virtually all areas of Georgia, Alabama and the Carolinas are impacted, as are Texas and Oklahoma. And over two-thirds of Florida is in an extreme drought.
You may be thinking, why worry about winter drought, especially when most crops aren’t even planted yet?
Snow and rain during the offseason is critical for recharging subsoil moisture. This is the layer that begins about a foot below the surface and can extend about six feet. It can provide a bank of water that roots can reach during the season. This helps the crops perform productively even during periods of low rainfall. Lack of subsoil moisture puts crops at risk and often leads to yield reductions. So yes, the moisture you get, or don’t get, in the winter can impact crop production several months later.
Related Posts
The Spring Rush: What Farmers Are Up Against
The Spring Rush: What Farmers Are Up Against “Farmers are always thinking about our products.” I’ll never forget those words, uttered by an old client of mine. She worked for a large life sciences company. We were launching a pre-emergence corn herbicide, to a market saturated with them. I thought she was joking. She wasn’t. I told her that in the hierarchy of thoughts occupying a farmer’s mind, pre-emergent herbicides barely registered. Adding that we had already spent more time thinking about them during our meeting than most farmers do all year. To be fair, she isn’t the only one to share this flawed view. Few occupations require more versatility, or have more irons in the fire, than farming. That’s why I’ve long advocated that anyone marketing to farmers considers not just the product they are selling, and what challenge or opportunity it may address, but what impact it will have on their entire operation – from soil to software, labor to logistics. Because that’s how farmers think. As the calendar turns to April, we’re entering the busiest – and most critical time – of the year.
This Week In Ag #99
Shopping with a farmer can be quite the experience. It’s one my mother refused to partake in during her entire 40-year marriage. This weekend, I went with my wife to exchange a pair of blue jeans that Santa brought me. As we were looking for my size, a clerk at Boot Barn suggested a different
How Advances in Crop Genetics Influence Nutrient Management
Advances in crop genetics are transforming how farmers approach nutrient management. Improved seed resilience, higher yield potential, and changing plant behaviors mean that fertility programs must evolve too. As genetics drive progress across the farm, understanding how nutrition supports those genetics is key to maximizing productivity and sustainability
