Changing precipitation patterns continue to challenge farmers across the Corn Belt, according to Dennis Todey, director of USDA’s Midwest Climate Hub.
“As the agricultural landscape evolves, it’s vital to keep farmers informed with the latest data and insights,” said Todey. “Understanding changes in weather patterns and other factors empowers them to make better decisions and optimize their operations.”
Todey recently spoke to farmers in the Pivot Bio booth at the 2024 Farm Progress Show on a range of topics, from the potential threat of an early freeze to the changing dynamics of precipitation and its implications for growing seasons. Three of his main points were:
1. Early-Freeze Concerns Are Minimal
Todey reassured farmers that based on current weather models and historical data, there is no imminent threat of an early freeze this season. He highlighted that freeze-risk assessments are generally guided by trends such as seasonal temperature patterns and climatic conditions, which currently do not indicate a high probability of frost.
2. Growing Seasons Are Extended Due to Warming Trends
Warming trends have resulted in longer growing seasons, with the average dates for last spring and first fall freezes shifting. This provides more time for crop growth but also introduces new challenges for farmers, such as an increase in insects and weeds.
3. Rainfall Patterns Are Shifting
The Corn Belt will still experience moderate rains; however, farmers should expect larger intense rainfalls. These heavy rainfalls, especially in the spring, can lead to rapid soil saturation, runoff, and potential erosion, impacting crop health and soil structure. Todey says this change in rainfall distribution affects soil-moisture levels. Additionally, rainfall is becoming more variable as to when or where it occurs during the year.
“While farmers in the Corn Belt faced many challenges this year, the potential for nitrogen loss through leaching and denitrification was especially prevalent during the early planting season, when there was so much rain,” said Clayton Nevins, Ph.D., Pivot Bio senior agronomic scientist. “Our goal at Pivot Bio is to help farmers solve for a percentage of nitrogen loss by diversifying their fertilizer sources with nitrogen-fixing microbes that live on the plants’ roots and provide consistent access to nitrogen.”
Learn more about what Pivot Bio can do for nitrogen loss in this interview with agronomist Karen Zuver from Farm Progress Show.
FPS24 - Interview with Karen Zuver, Pivot Bio 4:30