What Do Farmers Need to Know About Climate Change? United States Drought Monitor

 

On the Climate Column, we have noted that drought is expected to become more frequent, severe and damaging to farmers as the climate continues to change globally. Farmers with operations of all types and sizes need to be aware of drought. The length and intensity of drought conditions impact an extensive and nuanced range of production decisions, including harvest timing, irrigation timing and quantity, forage management, feed purchased, crop protection applications, and herd management.

 

To help farmers navigate these decisions, the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) produce the U.S. Drought Monitor. The Monitor is a map of drought conditions throughout the country as experienced the week prior.

 

The maps are released every Thursday, or, if Thursday is a federal holiday, on Wednesday. The conditions detailed on the map utilize measurements of weather, hydrologic and soil conditions as well as more subjective observations of drought impacts from over 350 drought observers.

 

In addition to gaining information needed to inform production decisions, farmers might be interested in watching the Monitor because USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) uses it for drought relief decisions through the Livestock Forage Disaster Program, the Livestock Assistance Grant Program, and the Non-Fat Dry Milk Program. 

Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.