Wet Weather, Soil Temperature May Delay Spring Planting
Elwynn Taylor, ISU Extension climatologist
Note to media editors: See the Soil Temperatures for Agriculture webpage for a three-day history of four-inch soil temperatures and the six to 10-day weather forecast.
4/16/2008
AMES, Iowa -- Warm week, cold week, wet week, dry week: That’s the story of Iowa’s weather, says Iowa State University Extension climatologist Elwynn Taylor. If it doesn’t dry out soon, planting will be delayed in some places in the Corn Belt, he said.
More rain is possible, particularly in southern or southeastern Iowa, he added.
“Don’t get too anxious about planting until after April 25. Then plant when the soil is right,” Taylor said. Soil temperature will be critical to planting times for corn and soybeans.
“There is not a greater danger of a late killing frost than usual, but we do expect to have cold outbreaks and warm times and cold times and warm times.” Taylor said. That’s the pattern.
For more information, listen to the interview with Elwynn Taylor. (Time 7:50)
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Contacts :
Elwynn Taylor, Agronomy, (515) 294-7839, setaylor@iastate.edu
Douglas Cooper, Extension Communications and External Relations, (515) 294-6275, levachek@iastate.edu