CLIMATE 
69 
CHAPTER IX. 
CLIMATE* 
“Among the factors which influence the agriculture of a state 
none is more important than climate. The class of crops which 
can be grown is largely determined by the length of the growing 
season, and the amount and distribution of the rainfall.” Any 
one of these factors may determine the type of farming which 
can be followed to best advantage. 
“The distribution of rainfall over Wisconsin is remarkably 
uniform, the average yearly precipitation having a range of 
from 28 to 34 inches, while the mean for the state as a whole is 
31 inches. This is a slightly heavier rainfall than is received by 
eastern England, northern France, most of Germany, Sweden, 
and the Dundee Valley. As compared with other portions of 
this country, Wisconsin has a total rainfall equaling that of cen¬ 
tral Oklahoma and Kansas, northern Iowa, Michigan, Northwest¬ 
ern New York, or the Puget Sound Basin of Washington. But 
owing to its northerly location, the lessened evaporation probably 
makes the precipitation as effective as that of Arkansas, Illinois, 
or Virginia. ” 
The local distribution of rainfall varies, however, from year to 
year, some sections receiving more rain one year, and other sec¬ 
tions more in other years. The variation is caused largely by the 
movement of cyclonic storms. The average rainfall for the en¬ 
tire state during the driest year was 21.4 inches, and for the 
wettest year 37 inches. 
“Of equal importance, in agriculture, to the total rainfall, is 
its seasonal distribution, and in this respect Wisconsin is un¬ 
usually fortunate, since about half of the total rainfall comes 
in May, June, July, and August, and nearly 70% from April to 
♦This chapter has been taken largely from Wisconsin Bulletin 223 
on The Climate of Wisconsin and its Relation to Agriculture. This 
bulletin should be consulted if more information is desired concerning 
climate. All quotations indicated are taken from this bulletin. 
