Statewide Iowa — (RI) — Iowa farmers could again be facing costly delays in planting early in 2020 as forecasters warn the chances are rising for another cold, wet spring ahead — and more flooding.
Meteorologist Dennis Todey, director of the U-S-D-A’s Midwest Climate Hub, based in Ames, says conditions are setting up in a familiar pattern.
Wet soil and flooding forced many Iowa farmers to push back planting this year and the harvest has lasted into December for some growers. Based on the latest data, Todey says farmers could be in for another difficult planting season.
Winter arrives on December 21st this year, so we’re a good three months from the start of spring. Radical shifts in weather patterns before then are possible, though unlikely. Todey says the trends into early spring will be the ones to watch.
Severe and record flooding hit much of the Northern Plains this year and many of the region’s rivers are still near, at or above flood stage.
Dennis Todey photo courtesy of Radio Iowa
