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Mother Nature pumps the brakes on #plant18
It’s hard to start planting season with snow on the ground. Here’s a look at Twitter and the latest weather events, soil temps and what it all means for the days ahead.
5 Min Read
WINTER OR SPRING? Henry County, Ill., farmers expect to see fields like this in January, not April. Almost 2 inches of snow fell on April 9.
On April 9, many Illinois farmers woke up to an unwelcome sight: more snow.
C-U received 0.7 inches of snow in the last 24 hours. You can see all the weather stats for April at https://t.co/tA3eRXlMLi
— Jim Angel (@JimAngel22) April 9, 2018
2.5" was the storm total at the Quad City airport through 7 am, with 0.8 in the past 6 hrs. 2.4" total at the Davenport airport, 0.5 in past 6 hours.
— NWS Quad Cities (@NWSQuadCities) April 9, 2018
April snow events are rare but not unheard of. “It was more common in the 1970s and 1980s,” says Jim Angel, state climatologist with the Illinois State Water Survey, adding that 1982 was the last time Illinois had notable April snow. The record breaker dates all the way back to 1920.
Believe it or not, for #Champaign #Urbana, the 4.8" of snow in #April is not the record. That goes to April 1920 with 8.0" of #snow !
— Jim Angel (@JimAngel22) April 9, 2018
With snow still falling, soil temperatures on Sunday ranged from 32.6 degrees F in northwest Illinois to 38.5 degrees F in southern Illinois.
“The snow is getting all of the attention, but an extremely cold April is the real driving force behind all of this,” Angel says. “If it wasn’t 14 degrees below normal, this would all be rain.”
For most farmers, the decision to wait for better soil conditions is obvious.
I think I have time to change the air in the planter tires #Plant18 pic.twitter.com/ug6MbI5MR4
— SharkFarmer (@sf28430) April 9, 2018
This would be a beautiful sight to wake up to if it wasn’t April 9th. #plant18 on hold!!!! pic.twitter.com/o0rn1vhy3H
— Alex Ballweg CCA (@AlexBallweg) April 9, 2018
As it snows, AGAIN....just call it what it is;
— Kris Ehler (@Bean_Dork) April 9, 2018
It’s Monday, January 97th, 2018#stopsnowing#plant18
Mother Nature is really not helping us get #plant18 rolling. pic.twitter.com/plCD6AIXzL
— Matt Aberle (@maberle91) April 9, 2018
Can it snow 2 inches and plant beans in the same week? Time will tell....... #plant18 pic.twitter.com/mAXhc1TmRr
— Will Hornback (@whornbac) April 9, 2018
Some farmers, like Maria Cox in Greene County, already pulled the trigger, planting last Friday.
Planting corn wearing insulated bibs. This is a first. #plant18 begins on our farm by White Hall, IL. pic.twitter.com/nAvGCGUibh
— Maria Cox (@MariaCoxFarm) April 6, 2018
Stephanie Porter, Burrus Seeds, recommends waiting for warming trends and fit soil conditions.
Just got a call from near Rockford (and other Northern IL areas) - yes, it’s dry there. But, there is snow on the ground and soil temps are 32 F - I would wait to plant the soybeans.
— Stephanie Porter (@skporter) April 9, 2018
While #plant18 is off to an extremely strange — and in most places, nonexistent — start, agronomists want everyone to remember it’s still early April.
My advice to farmers this week - Make Good Choices.
— Karen Corrigan (@weedgirl24) April 7, 2018
Snow has melted away, but snow in April seems so odd. Is it? Check out this review of April 1 to 15 snowfall data in Springfield. Short story: Pretty easy to spot snow in April when I was growing up & while we don't see this much very often - snow isn't foreign to April. pic.twitter.com/5YS1NutJSQ
— Matt Montgomery (@matt_montgo) April 9, 2018
2018 Crop Insurance Early Plant dates for #corn and #soybeans for replant benefits
— AgriSource Inc (@agrisource) April 3, 2018
This quote might say it best....
"It is too late to be early, but it’s too early to say that we’ll be late this planting season."#plant18 pic.twitter.com/YYVAklbptj
After all, it is the Midwest. And as the saying goes, if you don’t like the weather, just give it an hour.
Cool with fog tonight into early Tuesday. Much warmer weather just around the corner. #iawx #ilwx #mowx pic.twitter.com/C62AOwjfTH
— NWS Quad Cities (@NWSQuadCities) April 9, 2018
Dry weather is expected most of the week, but thunderstorms will arrive beginning Friday afternoon. Warming trended also expected. #ILwx pic.twitter.com/RG8bheH5ah
— NWS Lincoln IL (@NWSLincolnIL) April 9, 2018
So, hold off on any last-minute planter modifications.
And know you’re not alone in your search for true spring weather.
Javier Baez, Jose Quintana and the #Cubs are having a snowball fight at Wrigley Field before #OpeningDay https://t.co/ucHi5jKU4e pic.twitter.com/ucWDimhgYb
— Brian Cassella (@briancassella) April 9, 2018
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