(The Center Square) – The Illinois state climatologist says extreme weather swings don’t appear on the horizon this year.
During an Illinois Soybean Association webinar, Trent Ford said 2024 got off to a dry start, which allowed farmers to get an early start during spring planting season.
“Early season dryness across much of the state in 2024, especially April and May statewide, we only got 60 to 70% of normal precipitation,” said Ford.
As a result, the entire growing and harvest season for corn and soybeans was ahead of schedule.
According to the drought monitor map, much of northern Illinois is in a moderate drought. Ford said that is the result of an extremely dry September and October.
As for this winter, Ford said don’t expect the mild winter that Illinois has seen over the past few years.
“Shots of cold air, maybe some snow depending on when that cold air arrives with precipitation, but I think variability will be the name of the game for this winter,” said Ford.
Ford adds that Illinois was not heading into winter with full topsoil and streams, so there is capacity for more moisture. He said as usual, Illinois farmers will just have to adjust to the changing weather conditions in the state.
“I’ve never seen it get this dry or wet this quickly, I‘ve never seen this pest come this early or this late, all of these experiences are things that I hear from people around the state, but none of these are insurmountable,” said Ford. “It’s just dealing with the change in climate means having these new experiences and managing them as best we can.”