How the climate is helping and hindering farmers in Nebraska, Iowa
How the climate is helping and hindering farmers in Nebraska, Iowa
Updated: 4:38 PM CDT May 2, 2025
WE’LL LET YOU KNOW IF HE DOES. AS PLANTING SEASON GETS UNDERWAY, WE ARE TAKING A LOOK AT HOW CLIMATE IS HELPING OR HINDERING FARMERS. HERE’S METEOROLOGIST CAITLIN HARVEY. WITH TODAY’S WEATHER EXTRA. GARDENERS AND FARMERS RELY ON PLANTING ZONES TO KNOW WHAT GROWS BEST LOCALLY. BUT ZONES ARE SHIFTING NORTH DUE TO WARMING AND HEAT TRAPPING POLLUTION AT A RATE OF NEARLY 13 MILES PER DECADE, THE OMAHA AREA HAS BEGUN TO SEE A SHIFT IN OUR PLANT HARDINESS ZONE FROM FIVE BE EXPERIENCING COLD WINTERS AND MILD SUMMERS TO SIX BE REPRESENTED BY COLD WINTERS AND WARM SUMMERS. WHAT THIS MEANS FOR FARMERS IS A LONGER GROWING SEASON. ACCORDING TO THE U.S. PHENOLOGY NETWORK, SPRING ARRIVED EARLY, ABOUT 20 DAYS OR SO FOR EASTERN NEBRASKA, WESTERN IOWA. THIS YEAR, FARMERS HAVE TAKEN FULL ADVANTAGE OF THIS WEATHER. AS OF APRIL 27TH IOWA IS AHEAD OF THE FIVE YEAR AVERAGE FOR CROP PROGRESS ON ALL FRONTS, WITH 34% OF CORN, 25% OF SOYBEANS, AND 88% OF OATS ALREADY PLANTED. NEBRASKA. CLOSE TO THE FIVE YEAR AVERAGE FOR CROPS, CROP PROGRESS WITH 21% OF CORN, 13% OF SOYBEANS, AND 80% OF OATS ALREADY IN THE GROUND. IT IS NOTED, HOWEVER, THAT DROUGHT FIRE CONDITIONS ARE AFFECTING FARMERS IN THE NEBRASKA, ESPECIA
How the climate is helping and hindering farmers in Nebraska, Iowa
Updated: 4:38 PM CDT May 2, 2025
As planting season gets underway, we’re taking a look at how the climate is helping or hindering farmers.Caitlin Harvey explains how the Omaha area has started to see a shift in plant hardiness zones, why it means a longer growing season and more.She also looks at crop progress in Nebraska and Iowa, as well as the impact of drought and wildfires.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
As planting season gets underway, we’re taking a look at how the climate is helping or hindering farmers.
Caitlin Harvey explains how the Omaha area has started to see a shift in plant hardiness zones, why it means a longer growing season and more.
She also looks at crop progress in Nebraska and Iowa, as well as the impact of drought and wildfires.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |