Climate Outlook Predicts Cool Temperatures Will Linger into Spring

Feb 25, 2019

The unusually cold temperatures that have held their grip over South Dakota are expected to continue into March, according to the latest climate outlook released February 21, 2019.

“Following an exceptional cold snap in January, temperatures throughout the state have remained 8 to 20 degrees below average, setting several single day records, with some areas of the state on track to rank February 2019 the coldest on record,” said Laura Edwards, SDSU Extension State Climatologist.

Edwards said the cold climate pattern is likely to continue into early or mid-March at least.

“This pattern tilts the odds towards colder than average temperatures overall for the month ahead,” Edwards said, pointing to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center’s outlook for March 2019.

Source:sdstate.edu

Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.