Warmer U.S. winter could contribute to nitrogen loss

Aug 16, 2017

The Old Farmer’s Almanac released its latest long range forecast

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

If The Old Farmer’s Almanac’s long range forecast for the United States holds true and the winter in the Heartland Region is warmer than normal, fields could experience nitrogen loss, according to Scott Nelson, director of the On-Farm Network for the Iowa Soybean Association.

“If farmers are applying nitrogen in the fall, (warmer temperatures) could equate to more soil nitrogen loss through denitrification and nitrogen leaching,” Nelson told Farms.com.

“(Farmers) store their nitrogen in the fall, so warmer weather isn’t good for it.”

But before winter arrives, producers need to harvest their 2017 crops.

The forecast for the Heartland Region suggests thunderstorms could occur each of September, according to the Almanac.

Despite the possibility of thunderstorms, farmers shouldn’t have a problem harvesting their crops.

“It could slow them down,” Nelson said. “Some of the crop will be coming off in late September but generally it shouldn’t slow them down too much.”

And looking forward to the 2018 growing season, the Almanac suggests April and May will be cooler and wetter than normal.

If those weather conditions hold true, they could present farmers with a number of challenges.

“That kind of weather could delay planting, which can impact yield significantly,” Nelson said.

“Also, if it’s wetter than normal, there could be more early season diseases that can impact stand establishment. Generally, wetter springs aren’t as good for modern farming as dry springs.”

Other highlights from the Almanac’s forecast include a hotter than normal summer with lower than usual amounts of rainfall.

And September and October 2018 will be warmer and wetter than usual.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.