LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – The lack of precipitation this winter, and the early warm season have started to raise concerns from farmers heading into spring. The warmer and drier-than-average weather over the last few months will give most farmers a head start when it comes to the early season field work but, it could set crops up for a rocky rest of the growing season.
Tim Boring, Director of Michigan’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said that the lack of precipitation isn’t a great cause for concern yet, but is something they’re keeping an eye on through the season.
“You look at the lack of the snow cover and the dry conditions we currently have, certainly downstate here, but in the U.P. the the majority of the Upper Peninsula is in a moderate drought right now.” Boring said. “When we’ve got drier conditions like this, we can be in the field and not causing impaction in a way that you’re sometimes concerned about. but yes, it causes concern a bit of what it looks like for the rest of the season.”
Without the snowmelt from winter accumulation, Boring said the groundwater reserves won’t start at the level they’d like but as long as the spring and summer see average or above rainfall crops should be okay.
For fruit trees, an early blossom because of warmer weather could be severely impacted by a sudden shift below freezing. And without a significant freeze, there’s a higher likelihood of increased pest pressure and crop diseases.
Boring explained that with weather patterns becoming more unpredictable, the department made it a priority to focus on climate resiliency by furthering research on regenerative agriculture programs.
“We’re taking some steps in the department to address these sorts of things, both short term and long term,” Boring said. “These questions around climate resiliency have been central here at the department since I’ve been on the last year, I know it’s a priority of the administration as well, just looking to how we’re implementing resiliency across our systems.”
Boring said it’s still too early to know how heavily these impacts will be felt, but that he’s optimistic about the season as farmers get ready to plant.
