While eastern half of the Cornbelt has recorded unseasonably warm temperatures, and the ground has yet to freeze, it has offered the opportunity for soil moisture to be recharged. Some parts of the Cornbelt are awaiting frozen soil to finish harvest, and some part of the Midwest have been frozen solid for weeks. However, varying snow cover has left the wheat crop in jeopardy. As we begin a new year, let’s begin with a look at weather and soil conditions.

The USDA and several of its partners assemble weekly reports. We’ll take a state by state summary:

ILLINOIS: Topsoil 1% very short, 8% short, 66% adequate, 25% surplus. Winter wheat conditions are 1% very poor, 7% poor, 23% fair, 62% good, 7% excellent. Temperatures were generally mild for the month of December, averaging more than five degrees above normal across the state. Statewide precipitation averaged 3.67 inches during the month, almost a full inch above normal, with the Northwest and West districts (droughty areas of 2005 & 2006) receiving less than half an inch above normal precipitation. With the above normal temperatures, the precipitation was able to soak into the ground and help recharge soil moisture levels.

INDIANA: December weather was very warm and wet. The average state temperature was 37.1° which was 5.9° above normal. Total precipitation averaged 5.12 inches which was 2.06 inches above normal. The winter wheat crop is reported to be in generally good condition. However, there are some spots that have drowned out because of standing water. Some of the winter wheat is very short due to late plantings and is vulnerable to winter kill. A few scattered corn fields remain to be harvested. Very little field work was accomplished during the month due to wet soil conditions.

IOWA: Above normal temperatures, wet conditions have caused feedlots to become very muddy. Soil moisture conditions: very short 2%, short 13%, 77% adequate, 8% surplus. Average depth of snow cover was 0 inches, compared to 2 inches last year. Average depth of frost penetration was 2 inches, below the previous year’s 4 inches.

KANSAS: Topsoil moisture: 3% very short, 18% short, 76% adequate, 3% surplus. Wheat condition 1% very poor, 7% poor, 35% fair, 48% good, 9% excellent. Wheat wind damage 89% none, 9% light, 2% moderate. Wheat freeze damage 88% none, 11% light, 1% moderate. The State experienced normal to above normal temperatures throughout most of December. Much of the state received moisture in the form of snow or rain, with western counties experiencing heavy snow fall, blizzard conditions. Precipitation amounts during the last week of December ranged from over 6 inches to less than a quarter of an inch.

MICHIGAN: Temperatures were generally mild for most areas during the month of December, although there was a short cold stretch at the beginning of the month. For the 4 week period ending January 2, 2007, precipitation ranged from 1.69 inches in the east central Lower Peninsula to 3.20 inches for the southwest Lower Peninsula. Fields have been too muddy for fieldwork, except on drier soils. Winter wheat and alfalfa seedlings have not been affected by the lack of snow cover. Warmer than normal temperatures have helped maintain winter wheat fields. There were sporadic reports of standing water in some fields. Rains during December prevented late corn harvest. Farmers with corn still in the fields were waiting for the ground to freeze.

MINNESOTA: December 2006 precipitation totals were above historic averages in most locations of the state by one half inch to one inch. December snowfall totals throughout Minnesota were well below normal due to unseasonably warm temperatures that brought rain rather than snow. Temperatures during December averaged from 9.2 degrees to 11.1 degrees above normal. Temperatures ranged from a low of -16 degrees to a high of 67 degrees. This was the third warmest December since 1891, in the Twin Cities. Precipitation averaged from 0.33 inches above normal to 1.19 inches above normal. Snow cover was reported shallow to none prior to a slow moving storm system that moved across the state on New Years Eve, increasing the snow cover. Depth of frost was generally less than 12 inches.

MISSOURI: December weather was most notable for a snow storm that hit the northern two-thirds of the state the night of November 30 and into December 1. Snowfall of 12-16 inches was common in many locations. Precipitation for the month averaged 2.53 inches, slightly below the 30-year average. The winter wheat crop is in mostly good condition, as moisture has been adequate statewide to maintain healthy stands, although a few places in the Bootheel have received too much rain that washed out spots in fields.

NEBRASKA: Wheat conditions ranged: 1% very poor, 4%, 34% fair, 55% good, 6% excellent. However, crop producers had been concerned about future drought due to the lack of moisture, until two large snowstorms brought blizzard conditions across most of the state causing power outages and putting stress on livestock. The western half of the state received the brunt of the storm with reports of up to 26 inches of snow. Even though the moisture came rather harshly, it was sure to help crop conditions which had been abnormally dry to this point. The entire state was at the average precipitation levels for December, with a large portion being at least two times the average. The Southwest part of the state was as high as seven times the average. Depth of snow at the end of December averaged two and a half inches across the state.

NORTH DAKOTA: Above average temperatures during December caused it to be one of the warmest Decembers on record. A late snow storm during the end of December brought most of the precipitation received across the state to what was a mostly dry month. Average snow cover was 5.4 inches on December 31.

OHIO: The December 2006 average temperature for Ohio was 38.0 degrees, 6.4 degrees above normal. Precipitation for the state averaged 3.22 inches, 0.31 inches above normal. Winter wheat producing counties report that field conditions are fair to good, with less 10 percent in excellent condition. The winter wheat planting extended late beyond the recommended planting dates, because of wet field conditions. As a result of the wet fall throughout the State, many fields were not planted and fields planted did not survive.

SOUTH DAKOTA: Average snow depth 1.6 inches. Winter wheat conditions: 4% very poor, 7% poor, 41% fair, 39% good, 9% excellent. Winter wheat snow cover 69% poor, 23% adequate, 8% excellent. December started out mild and dry. By the end of the month, much of the state received snow and rain. The western part of the state continues to be short of moisture.

WISCONSIN: Temperatures averaged 7 to 10 degrees above normal during December. Low temperatures reached -1, while highs were reported in 50s. Precipitation ranged from 1.35 inches in Madison to 3.20 inches in Wausau. Most areas received above normal precipitation for the month. Scattered snow storms moved into northern portions of the state during December. Limited snow fell during the first half of the month in southern counties. Warm temperatures, rain melted snow cover in southern and central Wisconsin. Minimal snow cover was present in the northern half of the state at the end of December.

Summary:
Unseasonable temperatures across most of the Cornbelt allowed soils to absorb as much moisture as possible before freezing, providing hope that spring planting for row crops and wheat’s move out of dormancy will be met with adequate moisture. Quite a few farmers would prefer the ground to freeze, with would help both feedlots, as well as those who need to pick the final few acres of corn and beans.