Recent snowfall could help drought conditions for farmers

Mother Nature has made her presence known after dropping more than a foot of snow from Jan. 8 to 13 and causing the temperatures to plummet below zero for daily highs. While a change in the forecast closed schools and gave snow plow businesses their first real run of the season, it also brought much needed moisture to the soil the state so deeply depends on.

The State of Iowa has been in a drought, with some areas in extreme drought conditions, going on four years. According to Greg Wandrey, Iowa Corn Growers Association Director of Sustainability, more than 97 percent of the state is in some level of drought.

“Many places in the drought-stricken areas of the state are more than 10 inches of rainfall short of long time averages. Rainfall in Iowa averages 32 to 34 inches per year with less in the northwest and more in the southeast,” Wandrey said. “Not many areas of the state have been near the average the past few years.”

Going back to data from November 2020, Wandrey said the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship listed topsoil moisture condition rated 12 percent very short, 28 percent short, 58 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. The subsoil moisture condition rated 20 percent very short, 33 percent short, 46 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.

A year later, the conditions bounced back with topsoil moisture levels rated 3 percent very short, 20 percent short, 74 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 7 percent very short, 29 percent short, 62 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. The following year did not have as good results with moisture levels plummeting. In 2022, topsoil moisture condition rated 23 percent very short, 33 percent short, 43 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. The 56 percent short to very short topsoil moisture rating was the highest percentage of short to very short to close out the season in a decade when 72 percent fell into the short to very short categories. Subsoil moisture condition rated 30 percent very short, 35 percent short, 34 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.

To wrap up 2023 conditions remained serious with topsoil moisture rated 22 percent very short, 45 percent short, 33 percent adequate with no surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 33 percent very short, 40 percent short, 26 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.

“As you can see, the drought intensified since 2020 and 2021 the last two years. State moisture averages don’t tell the whole story though,” Wandrey said. “The timing of rainfall is also very important. For example, a farmer may have had below average rainfall for the year but they got rain during critical times during the growing season and produce a good crop. I talked to farmers who had tremendous yields in 2023 with very little rainfall but the rains came at the right times. On the other hand, farmers that did not get that critical rainfall did not fare as well.”

Dry springs can help farmers get their crops in the ground in time but timely rain is needed at key growth stages throughout the season, Wandrey said. That can determine if the crop will be poor, average or good for the year.

To help the overall topsoil conditions, copious amounts of snow can benefit drought levels, although additional factors matter such as when the snow hits the ground, if it will do future crops any good.

“While snowmelt can be helpful in the spring, the key is whether the ground is thawed enough to absorb some of the melting snow. If the ground is frozen, the snowmelt may run off the field,” Wandrey said. “Practices like no-till and cover crops will hold the snow in the field until it melts in the spring.”

Farmers also have additional tools to combat the variable weather conditions. Wandrey said pieces like precision ag equipment and choosing seed varieties that can produce high yields in tough conditions help farmers control their own destinies.

“Iowa farmers are an optimistic bunch and look forward to the next growing season just like a baseball team looks forward to the upcoming baseball season. Hope spring eternal,” Wandrey said. “However, every farmer wants Mother Nature to be a good partner throughout the growing season.”