The drought monitor as of Tuesday, Jan. 13th indicates marked improvement, especially in eastern Kansas. 

Last week’s precipitation helped a great deal. Only four percent is even in moderate drought. The six-to ten-day outlook (Jan. 20 to 24) indicates near normal for temperatures and precipitation. The eight to 14-day outlook (Jan. 22 to 28) indicates a near normal to slightly below normal for temperatures and normal to a 33 to 40% chance of leaning above normal for precipitation.  

Overall, this has been a very mild winter with an occasional brief cold period. High temperature records have been set. Nighttime lows have been mild overall. While many of us aren’t thrilled by winter, it’s important to producers and even benefits all of us. Today, what are the benefits of winter, a true winter.

• First, let’s touch on the wheat crop. We plant winter wheat, meaning it must accumulate cold to vernalize. If it doesn’t, it won’t flower. We aren’t likely in danger of this happening but may flirt with the possibility of freeze damage. Wheat is most winterhardy at the start of winter. As winter progresses, typically temperatures warm and day length increases, it becomes less winterhardy. With unseasonably warm temperatures, it can break dormancy early and start to grow with the growing point emerging from the soil at jointing. We figure here around March 15th. If conditions have it occur earlier and we have a cold snap, it can damage or even kill the growing point and vascular system. Many long time wheat producers can recall when this has happened.

• Second, a “real” winter helps with pest control and not just for producers. You have probably noticed how many flies, ladybugs and other insects are around on warmer days compared to normal. Extended cold never eliminates all of them but helps keep many populations under lower levels. And winter means many insects have to come in from south of here as they can’t overwinter. If we continue this trend, they may be able to overwinter here. The same is true of diseases that normally must blow in from the south.

• For homeowners, it can cause premature opening of tree leaf and flower buds. It allows many vertebrate and invertebrate pests to be more active than normal in lawns and farm fields.

• On the precipitation front, warmer temperatures mean more rain, and unfortunately freezing rain. And our heaviest snowfalls occur when it’s in the 20s and low 30s. When temperatures are lower than that, snowfall is typically lower and fluffier.

Dr. Victor L. Martin is the agriculture instructor/coordinator for Barton Community College. He can be reached at 620-792-9207, ext. 207, or martinv@bartonccc.edu.