USDA: Weather Impacts on Crop Production
10 February 2012
US - The “year without a winter” gained momentum in January, with the majority of the continental United States reporting above-normal temperatures. Monthly temperatures averaged more than 10 degrees Fahrenheit above normal in parts of the north-central United States, while near- to slightly below-normal temperatures were confined to southern Florida and the Pacific Northwest.
Nevertheless, cold weather caused some concerns during January. For example, an early-month freeze damaged some vegetables and other temperature-sensitive crops across Florida’s peninsula on January 4-5. Later, a mid-January cold spell resulted in sub-zero readings across the northern Plains.
At the time of the initial cold blast, the northern High Plains’ winter wheat crop had no protective snow cover.
January Agricultural Summary
During January, temperatures were above average across much of the Nation, leading to thawing fields, below average snowpack, and declining soil moisture levels in many locations. Most notably, temperatures in the northern Great Plains were more than 12 degrees above normal, where some winter wheat fields were left unprotected due to a lack of snow cover.
Precipitation totals varied widely from one region to another, with portions of Texas accumulating more than 300 percent of normal moisture levels during the month. Elsewhere, the remainder of the Great Plains, as well as the Southwest and Atlantic Coast States were unusually dry.
Further Reading
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February 2012
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