La Nina winter brings precipitation and colder temperatures to the region

The latest seasonal data released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) indicates that La Nina has a 71% chance of emerging between September and November this year and persisting until January and March 2025.

While the NOAA outlook indicates that North Dakota has an equal chance of experiencing above or below normal temperatures and precipitation during this period, Paige Brummund, Ward County NDSU Extension agent, said recent winter forecasts she reviewed show the region could be affected by La Niña, which brings heavier precipitation and colder temperatures.

Such conditions will be a concern for ranchers, and Brummund said they are likely preparing their food resource stocks to get through the year in case of extreme snow events.

“So this is something that our breeders are always paying attention to the forecast throughout the season and planning accordingly. Fortunately, the hay harvest this year was phenomenal. There were a lot of them, so hay prices are pretty low right now. It’s a good year to stock up and increase stocks that were sort of depleted during the drought years,” » said Brummund.

Brenden Klebe, Pierce County Extension agent, acknowledged there was much more hay than in previous drought years, and the majority was high-quality grass and alfalfa that will keep livestock happy and healthy. Klebe said that in light of the expected snowfall and colder temperatures, it is critical that livestock producers ensure their snow removal equipment is ready to go and their windbreaks and shelters are up to snuff. height.

“It can be very hard on livestock, so it’s important to have shelters and put them in good protected areas so they’re ready if one of these blizzards comes, because we know winter might not be gentle”, said Klebe. “Nothing is perfect. Earlier this spring we were hot and dry, ready for another drought, and within a month the summer turned into a very wet summer. With climate and conditions like that, we base it on history, but in North Dakota, Mother Nature is still undefeated against meteorologists, so you can’t be too hard on them.

Brummund said there hasn’t been much drought this year in Ward County, with only a few weeks where conditions fell into the abnormally dry category and the northwest part of the county saw a slight drought. Brummund said the majority of the growing season was average or above average.

Pierce County was spared drought for most of the growing season, but was somewhat affected by excess rain and fewer growing degree days (GDD). Klebe said the situation has improved somewhat for growers because it has been warmer than usual, but May-planted corn is still 127 GDD behind the five-year average. Klebe said his conversations with Pierce County farmers have become more optimistic: Even though the corn is still a little wet, it might require a lot less drying and maintenance after it’s harvested.

“At the end of August, our corn growing degree days were so far behind that we said, ‘Well, let’s see if we make it or not.’ With the pleasant month of September, we have caught up a little. At least it won’t hurt performance as much.” said Klébe. “I saw soybean fields that were ripening quite a bit. It’s actually pretty crazy how much it’s evolved. Once people can get into it, guys will get into it pretty quickly.

Harvest in Ward County was delayed due to the later spring and cooler temperatures.

“There are still quite a few acres left to harvest. Most of the small grains are gone or will come off this week. We have a good week ahead here, which should be dry and quite warm and windy – so these will be good harvest conditions. » Brummund said in an interview in September.

Brummund said canola is halfway through harvest, but late-season crops like soybeans, corn and sunflowers could take some time to be ready.

“We had a lot of wind at the start of the season, which caused some problems in the spring because we had to replant some fields. We had hail. Fortunately, these were more patchy and smaller strips or regions. So there are areas of the county where stretches of one or two kilometers have been completely leveled by hail or wiped out. Luckily it wasn’t county wide, but it was random. There were pockets of hail. » said Brummund.