722 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



WEATHER AND CROP REVIEW 



All reference in this publication to the effect of weather on crops, is 

 the result of co-operation between the United States Weather Bureau and 

 the Iowa Wather and Crop Service. 



The mildest winter in 29 years preceded the 1919 crop season in Iowa. 

 The mean temperature of December to March, inclusive, was 30.4 degrees, 

 or 6.5 degrees higher than the normal and 1.4 degrees warmer than the 

 warmest similar period heretofore (1907-8) in 29 years. Plowing was 

 done at intervals in each of the winter months. Very little ice was har- 

 vested. The soil was saturated the previous autumn and continued 

 unusually moist through the winter. Fruit buds swelled abnormally but 

 all came through the winter safely except peaches which advanced so 

 far that they were seriously injured by later freezes. 



Winter wheat, which entered the winter in excellent condition, was 

 snow-covered during periods of critical temperature, and the mild, moist 

 winter brought it through to April 1 with a percentage condition of 101, 

 the highest of record. Heavy snow on December 24, 1918, amounting to 

 a foot or more in several counties, covered the wheat growing luxuriantly 

 out of the unfrozen ground. This was thought by some to be unfavorable, 

 but it is worth while to remember that no damage resulted. A study of 

 winter-killing of winter wheat during the last 20 years shows that a warm, 

 moist February, or even a cold February with ample, porous, snow cov- 

 ering preceding periods of severe temperature, insures the survival of the 

 winter wheat on a large per cent of the acreage seeded. 



After March 16, the soil dried rapidly and seeding made good progress 

 till April 2, after which frequent heavy showers greatly delayed field 

 work, not more than 5 or 6 days being suitable for field work during 

 the month of April. More precipitation fell and more days were rainy 

 in the period February 1 to April 30 in Iowa than in any other similar 

 period in 30 years since State-wide records have been compiled; 9.53 

 inches falling on 28 days, or 3.75 inches and 9 days above the respective 

 normals. The year 1897 has held the record heretofore with 8.63 inches 

 and 24 rainy days. Not more than 60 per cent of the intended oats acre- 

 age had been seeded up to the close of April and much that was seeded 

 prior to April 7 lay uncovered on the ground and thus germinated without 

 the possibility of disking or harrowing. Considerable of the pledged and 

 intended spring wheat acreage could not be seeded. Winter wheat 

 fctooled freely, made rank growth and was a foot high and beginning to 

 joint in the southern counties by April 30. Pasturing and clipping with 

 mowers was resorted to in some localities to arrest the rank growth of 

 the wheat. Only about 40 per cent of the spring plowing was done in 

 April and practically no corn planting. Farm work averaged 2 weeks 

 later than normal. Deficient sunshine with temperature slightly below 

 normal beneficially retarded the opening of fruit buds. 



Rainy weather continued till May 6 when it culminated in a general 

 downpour, followed by 8 days of good weather, but the saturated condi 

 tion of the soil prevented or greatly retarded field work. By the 15th 



