This year Missourians were reminded that winters can have frigid temperatures and heavy snowfall.
Preliminary numbers rank this winter as one of the coldest in 30 years—the worst since the two severe winters of 1978-79 and 1979-80. Those ranked No. 1 and No. 2 on the coldness record.
“An unusually persistent weather pattern contributed to this long cold spell,” said Pat Guinan, University of Missouri Extension climatologist. “One of the strongest cold snaps in more than a decade occurred during the first 10 days of January. The most recent cold spell has held a grip on the state for much of February.”
Other cold winters occurred in 1981-82 and 2000-01. “It’s too close to tell whether this winter will be colder,” Guinan said. This is the first winter since 1981-82 that all three months of December through February reported below-normal temperatures.
Temperatures in February averaged 5-8 degrees below normal over the state. With February at an end, the last three-month average will fall between 27 and 28 degrees.
Guinan said this winter could squeak into the records as one of top 10 coldest in 116 years, but it will more likely fall in the top 15.
Low temperatures led to more snowfall and lack of snowmelt.
Portions of northwestern Missouri have reported nearly 50 inches of snow. Some counties have had continuous blankets of snow since December 7, Guinan said.
A weather observer in Daviess County near Gallatin, Mo., recorded 50.1 inches of snow so far this winter. Other reports around Maryville, Missouri, are near the 50-inch mark.
The northwest half of the state had snowfall ranging from 20 to 40 inches. The rest of the state had 10-20 inches of snow.
Low temperatures and heavy snow have implications for Missouri agriculture, said Guinan, who tracks weather for the MU Commercial Agriculture Program.
Little evaporation has led to continued periods of surplus soil moisture. The concern started with 10 inches of rainfall in October, making it the second wettest on record.
Guinan expects to see no drying of the soil well into March as lower temperatures continue. While no significant precipitation is expected over the next couple of weeks, there will be little chance for drying.
Crop fields, heavily rutted during harvest last fall, have remained frozen with little reduction of ruts. The torn-up fields and low soil temperatures could delay spring planting.
Snow cover reduced winter grazing of stockpiled pastures by beef herds. Owners fed more hay than expected. Cold weather increases nutrient demand by livestock trying to keep warm.
While livestock water remains plentiful in ponds and streams, farmers spend more time chopping ice to open water holes.
“It’s been a winter to test farmers’ patience,” Guinan said.
Area Farm & Ranch News
Mo. winter is one of the coldest on record
- Area Farm & Ranch News
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Search for Century Farms on in SW Mo.
The search is on for Missouri farms that have been in the same family 100 years or more. To qualify for Missouri Century Farm status, farms must have been owned by the same family for 100 consecutive years.
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Swine Profitability Conference slated
Information about the latest trends and research focused on staying competitive in the swine industry will take center stage at Kansas State University’s 2012 Swine Profitability Conference on Tuesday, February 28.
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No-till conference set in Oklahoma
Farmers and ranchers seeking to benefit from the latest developments in no-till cropping systems have until February 10 to receive the lowest cost for attending the February 21-22 Oklahoma No-Till Conference. A key advantage of attending the conference is the opportunity to interact with both technical specialists and experienced no-till farmers
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Missouri Dairy Profit Seminar slated for February 14, Springfield
One of the five “Dairy Profit Seminars” being conducted in Missouri will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday, February 14 at the Springfield Livestock Marketing Center.
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Monett plans beef conference Feb. 21
Using the social network in the beef business, enabling beef cattle producers of the future to enter the industry and handling cattle with less stress on man and beast are just a few of the things attendees will learn at the 2012 Monett Beef Cattlemen’s Conference.
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Research shows LED lights extend meat shelf life
A switch to LED lights in refrigeration units could save the retail meat industry millions of dollars each year, according to research from Kansas State University.
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Stone County Livestock & Forage Conference slated for February 16
The 82nd Stone County Livestock and Forage Conference will be held on Thursday, Feb. 16 at the Hurley Baptist Church, Hurley, Missouri.
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Missouri soybean yield contest winners announced
Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, congratulates Kip Cullers of Purdy, Mo., and Steve Riegel of Washington, Mo., for winning the irrigated and conventional categories of the Missouri Soybean Association yield contest.
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Gauging the farm’s financial success
Farm income set records in 2011, with estimated total net income for U.S. farms topping $100 billion. With tax season approaching, this is a good time for individual farmers to take a good look at their own operations’ financial performance.
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Spring Forage Conference set in Springfield Feb. 28
Temple Grandin, professor of animal science at Colorado State University will be the keynote speaker at the Spring Forage Conference set in Springfield Feb. 28.
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Search for Century Farms on in SW Mo.
