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Redwood Falls, Minn. —
A heavy snow season compounded by spring flooding meant water was everywhere during the early months of 2011.
Few could have imagined seeing all of that water would be followed by the situation the region faces as 2012 begins.
According to the National Weather Service, southwest Minnesota, including the Redwood area, has been categorized as being in severe drought.
There has been little of any type of moisture falling in the region, with the most recent significant rainfall occurring six months ago.
According to Ken Kotval of Morgan, who keeps a record of precipitation, the last major rainfall he recorded was in July – nearly three inches of rain fell that month.
Since then, records show five months which have not even matched the amount of rain which fell during July.
“Since Aug. 1 we have seen one to two inches of precipitation,” said Mark Seeley, U of M Extension climatologist this past Thursday. “Typically we see 10 inches or more in that same time. That means we are about eight inches on average behind.”
That, Seeley said, has led to what observers are callinging significantly dry conditions in southwest and south central portions of the state. The lack of moisture is having an impact on the soil conditions as well, said Seeley.
Reports show the top two to three feet of soil is in the extremely dry category, adding even the lower layers where water is stored have very low moisture content.
Seeley said the state is uniform in its lack of moisture, although regions, such as southwest and south central Minnesota, are experiencing the most severe conditions.
According to Bruce Potter of the Southwest Research and Outreach Center near Lamberton, the dry conditions this fall were evident in the fields when farmers did post-harvest tillage – a daunting task.
“There are some pretty big chunks farmers are going to have to deal with before planting,” Potter said, adding the conditions did not allow many to apply nitrogen at the end of the season.
The application of nitrogen is something farmers are going to have to address before planting, he said, although some may not be able to do it until after seeds are already in the ground.
Without any additional moisture this spring, Potter said the seeds planted in the ground are going to struggle putting the entire growing season at risk.
Heading into the heart of winter is no time to be hoping for more moisture, said Byron Paulson of the National Weather Service.
“In a normal year the amount of moisture that falls in January and February is pretty low,” he said. “It is difficult to get out of a drought with that in mind.”
While he said there is certainly a chance for moisture during the next few months, the reality is the real hope exists in the months to come when spring arrives.
The current dry conditions have led the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to require burning permits for any burning being done in the state, including Redwood County.
In a recent release, the DNR the best burning conditions during the winter months is three inches of snow or more surrounding a planned burn area.
“Fuels, such as grasses and brush, which are usually covered with snow, are freeze dried and available to burn this winter, the release stated.
While a couple of inches of heavy, wet snow fell in the region Thursday night into the early morning hours of Friday, the forecast for the following days indicated much of that snow could be gone soon – if it is not already melted.
“It has been decades since we have seen it this dry,” said Seeley.
Added to that is the fact a lack of snow does not bode well for prairie and pasture land, as a lack of snow means colder conditions typical in the weeks to come could cause winter injury and a much diminished growth rate in the spring.
Seeley said if the threat of low moisture moves from winter to spring, there are going to be a lot more farmers taking on crop insurance, and he said many farm loan agents are going to require it.
While there are certainly plenty of months left before the growing season begins, the current conditions continue to be an issue.
In the long term things don’t appear to offer much hope, either, but as we all know the weather in Minnesota could change at any time. Most just hope that change is for the wetter.
A heavy snow season compounded by spring flooding meant water was everywhere during the early months of 2011.
Few could have imagined seeing all of that water would be followed by the situation the region faces as 2012 begins.
According to the National Weather Service, southwest Minnesota, including the Redwood area, has been categorized as being in severe drought.
There has been little of any type of moisture falling in the region, with the most recent significant rainfall occurring six months ago.
According to Ken Kotval of Morgan, who keeps a record of precipitation, the last major rainfall he recorded was in July – nearly three inches of rain fell that month.
Since then, records show five months which have not even matched the amount of rain which fell during July.
“Since Aug. 1 we have seen one to two inches of precipitation,” said Mark Seeley, U of M Extension climatologist this past Thursday. “Typically we see 10 inches or more in that same time. That means we are about eight inches on average behind.”
That, Seeley said, has led to what observers are callinging significantly dry conditions in southwest and south central portions of the state. The lack of moisture is having an impact on the soil conditions as well, said Seeley.
Reports show the top two to three feet of soil is in the extremely dry category, adding even the lower layers where water is stored have very low moisture content.
Seeley said the state is uniform in its lack of moisture, although regions, such as southwest and south central Minnesota, are experiencing the most severe conditions.
According to Bruce Potter of the Southwest Research and Outreach Center near Lamberton, the dry conditions this fall were evident in the fields when farmers did post-harvest tillage – a daunting task.
“There are some pretty big chunks farmers are going to have to deal with before planting,” Potter said, adding the conditions did not allow many to apply nitrogen at the end of the season.
The application of nitrogen is something farmers are going to have to address before planting, he said, although some may not be able to do it until after seeds are already in the ground.
Without any additional moisture this spring, Potter said the seeds planted in the ground are going to struggle putting the entire growing season at risk.
Heading into the heart of winter is no time to be hoping for more moisture, said Byron Paulson of the National Weather Service.
“In a normal year the amount of moisture that falls in January and February is pretty low,” he said. “It is difficult to get out of a drought with that in mind.”
While he said there is certainly a chance for moisture during the next few months, the reality is the real hope exists in the months to come when spring arrives.
The current dry conditions have led the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to require burning permits for any burning being done in the state, including Redwood County.
In a recent release, the DNR the best burning conditions during the winter months is three inches of snow or more surrounding a planned burn area.
“Fuels, such as grasses and brush, which are usually covered with snow, are freeze dried and available to burn this winter, the release stated.
While a couple of inches of heavy, wet snow fell in the region Thursday night into the early morning hours of Friday, the forecast for the following days indicated much of that snow could be gone soon – if it is not already melted.
“It has been decades since we have seen it this dry,” said Seeley.
Added to that is the fact a lack of snow does not bode well for prairie and pasture land, as a lack of snow means colder conditions typical in the weeks to come could cause winter injury and a much diminished growth rate in the spring.
Seeley said if the threat of low moisture moves from winter to spring, there are going to be a lot more farmers taking on crop insurance, and he said many farm loan agents are going to require it.
While there are certainly plenty of months left before the growing season begins, the current conditions continue to be an issue.
In the long term things don’t appear to offer much hope, either, but as we all know the weather in Minnesota could change at any time. Most just hope that change is for the wetter.
