One-Month Conditions

• Temperatures were 2-5°F below normal across most of WI, with an Arctic cold snap during the second half of January.​
• Precipitation totals were near to above normal for most of WI over the past 30 days, but most of this precipitation fell during the first half of January.​
• Snowfall totals have been 75% or less of normal across most of WI, with totals of 5-15” common. Season snowfall totals have been at or above average for most of the state.

Impact

• Soil moisture levels at 4” depth showed a substantial decrease from early January levels across UW research farm stations (Wisconet) following a dry and cold second half of January. The east and southeast remain abnormally dry for this time of year.​
• Frost in the top 12” of soil is common across WI, with some northern stations reporting a frost depth deeper than 2 feet.​
• Chilling hours for Wisconsin’s perennial fruits range from 733 to 842 accumulated hours. ​
• Drought coverage decreased substantially from a month ago, but remains in place in parts of the NE, NW, and S.

Outlook

• Precip over the next 7 days is most likely in the far north and northeast regions.​
• Climate probabilities for Mid-February indicate that temperatures are likely (60-70% odds) to be above normal statewide with a lean (40-50% odds) towards above normal precipitation.​
• The outlook for February shows a lean toward below-normal temperatures and uncertainty for precipitation statewide.​
• The outlook for Feb-Apr indicates a statewide lean towards above-normal precipitation and uncertainty for temperatures.

Agronomic and Vegetable considerations

• Field Conditions
  • Prolonged snow cover during cold stretches has been beneficial to perennial or overwintering crops. Decreasing snow cover may pose a risk if temperatures dip for an extended period of time.
  • If winter grazing, move cattle out of sensitive areas if fields get muddy to keep cattle clean.
• Manure Applications
  • Reminder of Wisconsin’s NR 151 Runoff Rules with the timing of manure spreading and current runoff levels. Check DATCP Runoff Risk Advisory Forecast.
• High Tunnel Management
  • During the winter when high tunnels are closed up and row covers are on, plants can be exposed to high levels of relative humidity. This moisture provides conditions that are conducive to disease development. Leafy vegetables are especially susceptible to powdery mildew and downy mildew, but other diseases can occur as well. Make sure to remove row cover a couple of times a week especially during sunny or warmer days to reduce the moisture build up around plants that promote disease.
  • Aphids are a common pest on winter greens. The common species in high tunnels- green peach aphid, potato aphid, and fox glove aphid– are able to survive temperatures as low as 5°F. Management options include the release of lady beetles and green lacewings under row covers, insecticides either alone or in combination with beneficial insects, and weed management to reduce alternative hosts. 
  • Be on the lookout for winter cutworms feeding on your winter greens and overwintered crops. These cutworms are very cold hardy and can be found actively feeding anytime the temperature is above freezing. Damage often resembles foliar feeding by other caterpillars leaving holes in leaves although they can also clip plants at the base of the stem. If you would like to learn more about this pest and management options, listen to this 30-minute webinar from UNH.

If you would like to obtain a PowerPoint copy of this report, please email anastasia.kurth@wisc.edu.