Ia-crop-weather State Iowa Crops & Weather Released March 8, 2005 For the Month of February 2005 Issue IA-CW1005 Anxiously Awaiting Spring Agricultural Summary: Mild temperatures were beneficial for farmers and livestock. A few calves being born. In some areas cattle are still enjoying the corn stalk fields, however as the fields start softening up livestock being taken out to prevent compaction. Producers report that gains were above average for all livestock on feed. Farm to elevator grain movement was reported to be moderate. Some dry fertilizer was being applied. Producers waiting for ground conditions to settle so manure application can continue. Reporters note concern over rising fuel costs and the potential for Asian Rust, however, they also noted that crop specialists continue to be vigilant on this issue. At the end of February, the average depth of snow cover across Iowa was visibly zero inches, compared to 3 inches at the same time last year. The average depth of frost penetration for the state was 7 inches, compared to last year's 12 inches. Soil moisture availability was rated 1 percent very short, 11 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 15 percent surplus. Movement of grain for the state was 17 percent none, 37 percent light, 40 percent moderate, and 6 percent heavy. Availability of hay and roughage supplies was 4 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 21 percent surplus. Quality of hay and roughage supplies was 6 percent poor, 41 percent fair, and 53 percent good. Utilization of stubble fields for grazing rated 32 percent none, 28 percent limited, 27 percent moderate, and 13 percent extensive. Hog and pig losses in February were 24 percent below average, 72 percent average, and 4 percent above average. Cattle and calf losses were 26 percent below average, 69 percent average, and 5 percent above average. Iowa Preliminary Weather Summary - February 2005 General Summary: February temperatures averaged 31.1 degrees or 6.9 degrees above normal while precipitation totaled 1.65 inches or 0.67 inches greater than normal. This ranks as the 15th warmest and 20th wettest February among 133 years of state records. Temperatures: Mild weather prevailed for most of the month as below normal temperatures were confined to only five days (8th-10th, 18th and 28th). Sub-zero temperatures were recorded on only the 9th and 10th with Guthrie Center and Atlantic reporting the month's lowest temperatures with -5 degree readings on the morning of the 10th. Temperatures reached into the 60's across parts of western Iowa on the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 14th. The warmest day was on the 4th when afternoon highs in the 60's were recorded across the western one-third of Iowa with Sioux Center reaching 67 degrees. Heating Degree Days: Home heating requirements, as estimated by heating degree day totals, averaged 24 percent less than last February and 18 percent less than normal. Thus far this heating season (since July 1, 2004) degree day totals are running 10 percent less than last season and 13 percent less than normal. Precipitation: Precipitation was frequent during the month but mainly fell as rain rather than snow. Over one-half of February's precipitation total came during one storm at mid-month. Rain moved into southwestern Iowa late on the 12th and finally departed the state early on the 14th. Rain fell statewide, averaging 0.87 inches, with Bedford reporting the most rain with 1.85 inches. Another storm event on the 6th-7th brought precipitation to all but far northwest Iowa. Rainfall totals with this early month storm reached 1.70 inches at Glenwood with 1 to 3 inches of snow falling from southwest into north central Iowa. Another storm event on the 8th-9th brought 1 to 2 inches of snow to most of Iowa with 4 inches reported at several southwest Iowa locations. There were several other minor precipitation events during the month. The most significant of these was a snow event on the 24th when light snow fell from northwest into south central Iowa with 3.5 inches reported at Spirit Lake. Snowfall for the month averaged 3.9 inches or 2.4 inches less than usual. Preliminary monthly precipitation totals varied from 1.01 inches at Davenport to 3.45 inches at Glenwood. The Glenwood total surpasses their previous February record of 3.37 inches set in 1919. Winter Summary: Temperatures over the three mid-winter months averaged 25.4 degrees or 3.9 degrees above normal while precipitation totaled 3.59 inches or 0.42 inches greater than usual. This ranks as the 23rd warmest and 49th wettest winter among 133 years of records. Snowfall so far this winter season has averaged 15.9 inches or 9.8 inches less than normal. This ranks as the 22nd lowest season-to-date snowfall total among 118 years of statewide snowfall averages. Snow Cover and Frost Penetration for the Month of February ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Districts : : : Item :-----------------------------------------------------------------------: State : Last : Last : NW : NC : NE : WC : C : EC : SW : SC : SE : : Month : Year ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Inches : Snow cover : 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 3 Frost penetration : 12 10 13 8 8 8 2 1 1 7 16 12 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ February 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 : 62 2 29 12 0.65 -0.12 4 1,001 -326 26 20 Sioux Center : 67 -1 32 12 1.08 0.39 5 914 -304 27 21 Spencer : 63 2 31 12 1.08 0.39 5 947 -319 22 18 Spirit Lake : 61 4 28 12 1.16 0.44 2 1,017 -113 25 22 : North Central District : Britt : 58 3 28 8 1.43 0.52 8 1,041 -211 28 22 Humboldt : 56 5 29 8 1.60 0.81 10 1,000 -239 26 23 Mason City : 55 3 30 12 1.65 0.79 8 980 -318 25 18 Northwood : 54 5 28 11 1.34 0.58 9 1,041 -300 27 24 : North East District : Decorah : 54 4 30 10 1.10 0.28 8 976 -266 27 20 Dubuque : 46 7 30 10 1.27 -0.05 11 976 -252 23 18 Elkader : 54 2 28 7 1.35 0.18 9 1,021 -57 26 23 Independence : 53 2 29 10 1.61 0.47 9 996 -109 25 23 Waterloo : 49 3 30 11 1.35 0.27 9 974 -286 23 19 : West Central District : Audubon : 58 -4 30 6 1.26 0.32 6 973 -160 26 23 Carroll : 60 3 30 9 2.47 1.67 8 964 -236 24 21 Castana : 61 5 31 7 1.51 0.89 9 946 -300 26 21 Guthrie Center : 58 -5 31 8 1.18 0.12 5 955 -217 24 22 Harlan : 59 -2 31 7 2.19 1.39 8 956 -255 26 22 Jefferson : 59 2 31 10 2.22 1.42 11 942 -258 24 21 Logan : 62 -3 31 8 2.08 1.27 8 945 -197 27 23 Rockwell City : 59 5 30 8 2.19 1.49 8 985 -192 28 22 Sioux City : 66 0 33 10 0.40 -0.31 5 881 -280 22 16 : Central District : Ames : 57 0 32 12 1.60 0.67 12 914 -319 24 19 Boone : 58 2 31 9 1.66 0.60 10 952 -242 25 21 Des Moines : 61 5 34 10 1.55 0.44 9 852 -278 20 17 Eldora : 56 2 30 10 1.79 0.84 9 980 -256 25 22 Marshalltown : 55 1 31 10 1.16 0.09 9 942 -258 23 18 Newton : 59 3 31 8 1.85 0.81 8 945 -204 25 21 Perry : 60 0 31 10 1.54 0.73 10 948 -260 25 21 Toledo : 55 2 30 9 1.05 0.12 8 983 -241 26 22 : East Central District : Cedar Rapids : 54 2 32 10 1.00 -0.02 9 922 -255 23 17 Davenport : 55 9 33 10 1.02 0.08 9 875 -255 23 17 Iowa City : 58 9 35 9 1.27 0.31 9 847 -248 19 17 Lowden : 56 3 31 10 1.43 0.12 11 954 -221 24 21 Maquoketa : 50 3 29 9 1.14 0.08 11 990 -228 25 21 Muscatine : 55 9 33 8 1.30 0.23 9 884 -362 24 19 : South West District : Clarinda : 61 -4 32 8 1.54 0.62 7 913 -201 25 21 Glenwood : 64 -1 33 8 3.58 2.79 7 884 -207 26 20 Oakland : 61 0 32 10 1.94 1.14 7 909 -254 23 21 Red Oak : 64 0 33 8 2.19 1.18 8 877 -191 24 21 Sidney : 63 8 35 8 2.90 2.06 7 845 -227 23 18 : South Central District : Allerton : 58 3 32 8 1.89 0.92 9 912 -432 25 23 Beaconsfield : 60 5 32 8 1.44 0.68 8 905 -223 24 20 Chariton : 60 1 33 9 1.16 0.11 9 894 -241 23 22 Indianola : 64 1 33 9 1.83 0.81 8 893 -227 24 21 Leon : 62 -2 33 8 1.70 0.71 8 892 -228 25 24 : South East District : Bloomfield : 58 6 34 7 1.62 0.62 9 872 -175 23 20 Burlington : 58 12 36 10 1.39 0.23 10 805 -267 22 14 Ottumwa : 59 6 35 9 1.28 0.37 7 848 -245 20 16 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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