Ia-crop-weather State Iowa Crops & Weather Released January 5, 2005 For the month of December 2004 Issue IA-CW0105 December Marked By Mild Weather Agricultural Summary: Producers took advantage of moderate temperatures to complete outside operations: fall tillage, dry fertilizer application, fencing,tiling, and tree cutting. Reporters noted grain movement was slow, reduced by low prices and year-end tax strategies. Large piles of grain remain on the ground and there is a growing concern for grain quality. There were some reports of spoilage in the top two feet of corn piles. Some farmers are concerned by the lack of precipitation. At the end of December, the average depth of snow cover across Iowa was visibly zero inches, compared to 2 inches at the same time last year. The average depth of frost penetration for the state was 9 inches, compared to last year's 7 inches. Soil moisture availability was rated 2 percent very short, 17 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Movement of grain for the state was 30 percent none, 45 percent light, 23 percent moderate, and 2 percent heavy. Availability of hay and roughage supplies was 3 percent short, 83 percent adequate, and 14 percent surplus. Quality of hay and roughage supplies was 5 percent poor, 34 percent fair, and 61 percent good. Utilization of stubble fields for grazing rated 28 percent none, 19 percent limited, 32 percent moderate, and 21 percent extensive. Hog and pig losses in December were below last year's state averages at 23 percent below average, 72 percent average, and 5 percent above average. Cattle and calf losses were also below last year's state averages at 32 percent below average, 65 percent average, and 3 percent above average. With no snow and little ice cattle and calves were reported in good condition. Corn stalk bales were being used extensively and grazing on corn stalk fields was wide open. There were scattered reports of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) in hogs. Iowa Preliminary Weather Summary - December 2004 General Summary: Iowa temperatures averaged 27.4 degrees or 4.8 degrees above normal while precipitation totaled 0.58 inches or 0.65 inches less than normal. This ranks as the 39th warmest and 25th driest December among 132 years of state records. Temperatures: The relatively warm weather pattern of this past autumn continued through most of December. Above normal temperatures were the rule for the first 12 days of the month with temperatures reaching 56 degrees at Glenwood, Leon, Red Oak and Sidney on the 4th. The state's first subzero temperatures of the season did not arrive until the morning of the 19th when Sibley reported a low of -10 degrees. The month's coldest weather, however, came just before Christmas. Northwood recorded an afternoon high of only -1 degrees on the 23rd with temperatures falling to -18 degrees on the morning of the 24th. However, the month's warmest weather was saved for last as readings soared into the 60's across the southwest one-half of Iowa on the afternoon of the 30th. Glenwood reported the highest temperature with 67 degrees. Heating Degree Day Totals: Home heating requirements, as estimated by heating degree day totals, averaged 2 percent more than last December but 12 percent less than normal. Thus far this heating season (since July 1), heating requirements are running 6 percent less than last season and 14 percent less than normal. Precipitation: Dry weather prevailed for most of December. Over 60 percent of the month's precipitation fell on the 5th when rainfall amounts of one-half to two-thirds of an inch were common across the southeast half of Iowa. Monthly precipitation totals were below normal at all reporting stations with amounts varying from 0.06 inches at Sibley to 1.37 inches at Keokuk. The only snowfall of consequence began on the morning of the 20th and continued into the morning of the 21st. Snowfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches were common across central and northern Iowa with greatest amounts reported at Northwood (4.4 inches) and Lake Mills (4.0 inches). Statewide snowfall averaged only 1.2 inches for the month or 6.1 inches less than usual. This ranks as the 9th lowest December snow total among 118 years of state records. Snowfall was also less than normal in October and November with a season-to-date total of only 2.1 inches or 9.1 inches less than normal. This ranks as the 5th slowest start to Iowa's snowfall season (through Dec. 31). Snow Cover and Frost Penetration for the month of December ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Districts : : : Item :-----------------------------------------------------------------------: State : Last : Last : NW : NC : NE : WC : C : EC : SW : SC : SE : : Month : Year ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Inches : Snow cover : 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 NA 2 Frost penetration : 10 14 9 12 8 8 4 7 5 9 NA 7 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ December Weather Summary For Iowa Agricultural Statistics Service Prepared by AWIS, Inc. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : :DAYS:DAYS : AIR TEMPERATURE : PRECIPITATION : : : OF : OF STATION :-----------------------------------------: HDD : HDD : 32 : 28 : HI : LO :AVG :DFN : TOTAL : DFN :DAYS : TOT : DFN :COLD:COLD ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : North West District : Estherville : 57 -12 25 9 0.11 -0.61 1 1,219 -208 27 23 Sioux Center : 60 -10 27 8 0.12 -0.71 2 1,156 -197 29 24 Spencer : 60 -12 27 10 0.06 -0.64 1 1,166 -236 26 22 Spirit Lake : 55 -10 25 9 0.10 -0.76 1 1,185 -2 28 23 : North Central District : Britt : 54 -14 22 4 0.24 -1.11 2 1,317 -58 29 29 Humboldt : 56 -12 24 4 0.32 -0.68 5 1,261 -98 30 26 Mason City : 54 -14 25 7 0.42 -0.77 6 1,247 -159 26 24 Northwood : 54 -18 22 6 0.51 -0.62 3 1,330 -108 29 25 : North East District : Decorah : 53 -16 25 6 0.77 -0.42 8 1,220 -114 28 24 Dubuque : 56 -10 27 7 1.12 -0.81 8 1,174 -136 26 22 Elkader : 58 -14 24 4 1.06 -0.31 7 1,253 102 28 26 Independence : 58 -12 24 6 0.79 -0.72 5 1,252 5 28 25 Waterloo : 57 -13 27 7 0.51 -0.77 5 1,181 -167 25 23 : West Central District : Audubon : 61 -11 26 4 0.32 -0.85 2 1,201 -49 30 29 Carroll : 62 -10 26 6 0.25 -0.69 4 1,206 -114 30 28 Castana : 61 -9 26 4 0.26 -0.56 2 1,192 -163 31 27 Guthrie Center : 62 -12 26 5 0.22 -1.04 1 1,189 -89 30 27 Harlan : 63 -8 27 4 0.33 -0.66 3 1,186 -146 30 30 Jefferson : 62 -8 27 6 0.35 -0.59 4 1,178 -142 30 24 Logan : 64 -8 28 6 0.34 -0.72 2 1,153 -124 30 28 Rockwell City : 60 -11 25 4 0.15 -0.76 3 1,245 -54 30 27 Sioux City : 66 -10 30 9 0.12 -0.65 1 1,078 -224 28 23 : Central District : Ames : 60 -10 28 8 0.52 -0.57 7 1,131 -191 28 22 Boone : 60 -12 26 5 0.45 -0.87 5 1,209 -98 30 27 Des Moines : 63 -6 31 7 0.58 -0.72 4 1,062 -164 24 19 Eldora : 57 -9 25 5 0.46 -0.67 5 1,244 -90 29 26 Marshalltown : 58 -13 27 6 0.46 -0.81 5 1,160 -136 27 22 Newton : 61 -7 26 4 0.64 -0.47 5 1,207 -51 29 26 Perry : 62 -8 27 5 0.26 -0.79 6 1,182 -107 30 25 Toledo : 60 -11 25 4 0.75 -0.48 4 1,233 -68 29 26 : East Central District : Cedar Rapids : 59 -11 28 6 0.95 -0.62 8 1,142 -132 26 23 Davenport : 59 -7 29 5 1.06 -0.84 8 1,104 -83 24 21 Iowa City : 62 -3 31 6 0.94 -0.60 7 1,046 -133 23 22 Lowden : 58 -10 25 3 1.22 -0.86 10 1,225 -39 28 25 Maquoketa : 57 -8 26 4 0.89 -0.88 4 1,216 -53 27 25 Muscatine : 61 -5 28 3 1.18 -0.77 9 1,134 -218 25 22 : South West District : Clarinda : 64 -8 28 5 0.38 -0.78 1 1,127 -90 30 27 Glenwood : 67 -8 29 6 0.34 -0.82 2 1,098 -102 31 27 Oakland : 64 -6 28 6 0.43 -0.63 2 1,131 -144 31 27 Red Oak : 66 -8 30 5 0.48 -0.71 3 1,088 -101 29 26 Sidney : 66 -2 30 5 0.43 -0.71 1 1,079 -112 29 25 : South Central District : Allerton : 63 -7 27 4 0.72 -0.57 4 1,156 -283 29 25 Beaconsfield : 63 -7 28 4 0.36 -0.73 2 1,147 -70 30 24 Chariton : 65 -6 28 5 0.59 -0.74 6 1,130 -100 29 26 Indianola : 64 -8 28 5 0.56 -0.81 3 1,134 -94 29 25 Leon : 66 -8 29 5 0.63 -0.72 3 1,124 -91 30 24 : South East District : Bloomfield : 61 -3 28 2 0.98 -0.56 4 1,129 -6 28 24 Burlington : 62 -4 32 6 1.15 -0.81 7 1,022 -132 24 18 Ottumwa : 63 -6 30 6 1.17 -0.24 6 1,060 -122 26 18 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Precipitation (rain, melted snow or ice) in inches. Precipitation Days = Days with precipitation of 0.01 inch or more. Air Temperatures in Degrees Fahrenheit. Copyright 2005: AWIS, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Contact Information: Iowa Agricultural Statistics 210 Walnut St., Rm 833 Des Moines, IA 50309 1-800-772-0825 Fax 515-284-4342 nass-ia@nass.usda.gov