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| Hay and Forage had this . Does anyone else have any Info about the LaNina ??
News
Hello La Niña -- Drought In The Corn Belt?
It could be a dry year for growing crops in the Midwest, says Elwynn Taylor, Iowa State University Extension climatologist. According to Taylor, La Niña weather patterns and more than 19 years since the last major drought in that part of the world (1988), suggest a drought is likely this year.
Taylor explains, historically, the average time span between major droughts in the Midwest is about 19 years. He explains dry conditions in the Southeast could indicate Midwestern drought, too. Of the 17 major droughts in the Midwestern U.S. the past 100 years, 16 were preceded by a major drought in the Southeast, says Taylor. All of that was reported in a recent eHay Weekly (www.hayandforage.com).
As well, Taylor says La Niña weather patterns typically mean a 70% chance corn will yield below trend in the U.S. Corn Belt.
Earlier this month Taylor explained the current La Niña was confirmed Jan. 4, though the benchmark Southern Oscillation Index for it was reached on Christmas.
"The historical record now shows that this La Niña event began Oct. 21, 2007.The U.S. weather pattern typical of a La Niña (moist in the Ohio River valley, dry in the High Plains, and extreme temperatures in Midwest) was apparent by the end of November," says Taylor. "The historical El Niño began July 11, 2006, ended Oct. 18, 2006, and La Niña began Oct. 21, 2007. El Niño typically persists for 12 to 14 months and La Niña for 6-9 months."
For more insights and links from Taylor: www.extension.iastate.edu/weather.htm.
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Hello LaNina- Drought in the corn belt
