iGrow - A Service of SDSU Extension

Last week, the US Department of Agriculture released its updated Plant Hardiness Zone Map (PHZM).  This well-known resource for home gardeners and large-scale producers alike has undergone an overhaul from its last version, which was published in 1990.

In the January 12 WASDE and NASS reports, the following highlights are of importance in South Dakota.

By all accounts, the South Dakota winter has been a mild one thus far.  While many farmers and ranchers are focusing on all the ‘extra’ outdoor projects they are getting done this winter, and having to feed less hay to their cow herds, South Dakota cattle and corn markets have been influenced by several weather events outside the state.

Although 2011 was a year to be remembered for record flooding, the last 5 months of the year have been much drier than normal, a welcome change for many who delayed field work or wanted to get a few more outdoor chores done before a deep snow cover locked them in.  December 2011 continued the trend of the last several months, and was both warmer and drier than normal across South Dakota.  Many climate observing sites placed in the top ten warmest and/or driest December on record last month, according to preliminary data.

Although many people find some level of snow cover to be appealing for at least part of the winter, particularly during the holiday season, farmers and ranchers are often perfectly happy with little or no snow. One exception is winter wheat (and alfalfa) producers, who like to see at least some snow cover on their crops as it provides insulation against winterkill.