News

Wet planting season possible

An ag meteorologist says wetter than normal conditions this January could turn into a muddy start during planting for Midwest farmers.

Brad Rippey with USDA tells Brownfield La Niña has brought warmer and wetter conditions across the Midwest and if rainstorms continue into spring, fieldwork delays are likely.  “At this point we have very little few drought concerns across the Midwest and a bigger issue heading to spring, especially if we keep getting these rainstorms, will be the amount of mud and fieldwork delays that we might see if it stays wet.”

He says winter wheat country has seen the largest benefit from recent rainfall.  “Across the central and southern Great Plains we had been very dry until recently when a very well timed storm moved through parts of Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas and certainly eased the drought situation there.”

In the short-term Rippey says weather patterns will quiet down and bring colder temperatures, but stormy conditions are expected to continue through February.

AUDIO: Interview with Brad Rippey