Spring rains will struggle to make up for deficits

Crystal Reed
Mar 8, 2026
Mar 8, 2026

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

Trent Ford is the Illinois State Climatologist and has been with the Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois since 2019.

kAmu@C5 =625D 4=:>2E6 2?5 5C@F89E >@?:E@C:?8[ C6D62C49 2?5 52E2 4@==64E:@? 7@C E96 DE2E6 @7 x==:?@:D] w6 2?5 9:D E62> H@C< H:E9 4@>>F?:E:6D[ :?5FDEC:6D 2?5 DE2E6 286?4:6D @? :DDF6D C6=2E65 E@ H62E96C[ 4=:>2E6 2?5 4=:>2E6 492?86 :? x==:?@:D[ 2?5 6?8286 E96 86?6C2= AF3=:4 E9C@F89 @?=:?6[ >65:2 2?5 65F42E:@?2= @FEC6249]k^Am

kAmp ?2E:G6 @7 #@2?@<6[ x==:?@:D[ u@C5 62C?65 2 32496=@C’D 568C66 :? 86@8C2A9J 7C@> x==:?@:D $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ 367@C6 4@>A=6E:?8 9:D >2DE6C’D 2?5 5@4E@C2E6 2E %6I2D pU2>Aj| &?:G6CD:EJ]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mxu%ik^DEC@?8m s@ J@F 92G6 2 H62E96C HC2A\FA 7@C a_adnk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mu~#sik^DEC@?8m x==:?@:D H2D 3@E9 H2C>6C 2?5 H6EE6C E92? E96 `hh`\a_a_ ?@C>2= :? a_ad] %96 DE2E6H:56 2G6C286 2??F2= E6>A6C2EFC6 H2D db]e 568C66D[ `]_ 568C66 23@G6 ?@C>2=[ 2?5 E96 `gE9 H2C>6DE J62C @? C64@C5 DE2E6H:56]k^Am

kAm$E2E6H:56 2G6C286 E@E2= AC64:A:E2E:@? :? a_ad H2D ba]hc :?496D[ f]g :?496D 36=@H ?@C>2= 2?5 E96 abC5 5C:6DE J62C @? C64@C5 DE2E6H:56]k^Am

kAm|2C49 =65 E96 H2J H:E9 2G6C286 E6>A6C2EFC6D E92E H6C6 @G6C e 568C66D H2C>6C E92? ?@C>2=[ 2?5 yF=J[ $6AE6>36C 2?5 ~4E@36C H6C6 2== 2E =62DE a 568C66D H2C>6C E92? ?@C>2=] |62?H9:=6[ y2?F2CJ 2?5 s646>36C H6C6 3@E9 a 568C66D 4@=56C E92? ?@C>2= DE2E6H:56[ 2?5 36=@H\?@C>2= E6>A6C2EFC6D @44FCC65 :? u63CF2CJ[ |2J 2?5 pF8FDE 2D H6==]k^Am

kAmp=E9@F89 a_ad H2D ?@E ?62C=J 2D H2C> DE2E6H:56 2D a_ac[ E96 2G6C286 E6>A6C2EFC6 :? x==:?@:D =2DE J62C H2D DE:== H6== 23@G6 E96 a_E9 46?EFCJ 2G6C286] {2DE J62C H2D :?5665 2?@E96C 52E2 A@:?E :? 2 4=62C H2C>:?8 EC6?5 :? x==:?@:D[ :?5:42E:G6 @7 @FC 492?8:?8 4=:>2E6]k^Am

kAmr2=6?52C J62C a_ad H2D G6CJ 5CJ :? x==:?@:D[ 2D 2== 3FE EH@ >@?E9D =2DE J62C H6C6 5C:6C E92? ?@C>2=] ~?=J pAC:= 2?5 yF=J H6C6 H6EE6C E92? ?@C>2= DE2E6H:56] $@>6 @7 E96 >@C6 6IEC6>6 AC64:A:E2E:@? >@?E9D :?4=F565 E96 D:IE9 5C:6DE pF8FDE @? C64@C5 DE2E6H:56 W`]fc :?496DX[ E96 ``E9 5C:6DE $6AE6>36C @? C64@C5 W`]be :?496DX[ 2?5 E96 ?:?E9 H6EE6DE yF=J @? C64@C5 We]ab :?496DX]k^Am

kAmpD :D D66>:?8=J 2 A6C6??:2= @44FCC6?46[ yF?6 2?5 yF=J 3C@F89E >F=E:A=6 C@F?5D @7 6IEC6>6=J 962GJ C2:?72== :? x==:?@:D] |@DE @7 72C D@FE96C? x==:?@:D 925 g E@ `_ :?496D @7 AC64:A:E2E:@? :? yF?6[ 7@==@H:?8 2? 6IEC6>6=J H6E =2E6 DAC:?8 :? E96 C68:@?] u@==@H:?8 E96 G6CJ H6E >@?E9 @7 yF?6[ A2CED @7 u2J6EE6 r@F?EJ :? D@FE9\46?EC2= x==:?@:D 6IA6C:6?465 >@C6 E92? `a :?496D @7 C2:? :? 2 D:?8=6 52J]k^Am

kAmu@C E96 7@FCE9 4@?D64FE:G6 J62C x==:?@:D 76== 324< :?E@ 5C@F89E :? E96 =2E6 DF>>6C 2?5 72== 2D 6249 @7 E96 =2DE 7:G6 >@?E9D @7 E96 J62C H6C6 2E =62DE _]fd :?496D 5C:6C E92? ?@C>2= DE2E6H:56] %@E2= AC64:A:E2E:@? :? pF8FDE 2?5 $6AE6>36C DE2E6H:56 H2D @?=J b]` :?496D[ =6DD E92? d_T @7 ?@C>2= 2?5 E96 E9:C5 5C:6DE pF8FDE E@ $6AE6>36C A6C:@5 @? C64@C5 :? x==:?@:D]k^Am

kAm~?46 282:?[ E96 C68:@?’D =2C86DE C:G6CD 2AAC@24965 =@H DE286[ :?4=F5:?8 2=@?8 E96 x==:?@:D[ |:DD:DD:AA: 2?5 ~9:@ #:G6CD[ 42FD:?8 D@>6 >@56C2E6 492==6?86D E@ D9:AA:?8] %96 5CJ 72== H62E96C H2D 36?67:4:2= E@ 92CG6DE[ 3FE 56A=6E65 >@:DEFC6 E9C@F89@FE E96 D@:= 2?5 42FD65 ?62C\C64@C5 =@H 7=@H 4@?5:E:@?D :? D6G6C2= x==:?@:D DEC62>D :?4=F5:?8 E96 $2?82>@? 2?5 '6C>:=:@? C:G6CD] sCJ 4@?5:E:@?D A6CD:DE65 E9C@F89 E96 C6DE @7 72== 2?5 :?E@ E96 7:CDE >@?E9 @7 H:?E6C[ 42FD:?8 2 D:8?:7:42?E 6IA2?D:@? @7 >@56C2E6 E@ 6IEC6>6 5C@F89E 24C@DD x==:?@:D]k^Am

People are also reading…

Good cattle and a giving nature: Late cowboy to receive hall of fame honors
Meristem focuses on reducing crop input costs for farmers
Rural America at its finest: fire relief efforts in Nebraska show best of humanity
Proposals aim to improve pool of rural veterinarians
County school’s Easter parties created lasting memories
Nebraska ranchers reel from fire losses
Rail merger would hurt farmers
From rose farms to rice fields, travel continues
Geopolitical issues influencing soybean market
Divine intent of creation respected
Study reveals how bull buyers use key genetic information
Iowa farmer sees new path for agriculture
With labor tight, incentives key to finding the right help
Seed, weeds and satellites at Commodity Classic
Social media talk burns my britches

kAm%@E2= AC64:A:E2E:@? =2DE J62C C2?865 7C@> ?62C=J e_ :?496D :? 72C D@FE96C? x==:?@:D E@ =6DD E92? b_ :?496D :? 62DE\46?EC2= x==:?@:D] |F49 @7 D@FE96C? 2?5 D@FE962DE x==:?@:D H6C6 ` E@ d :?496D H6EE6C E92? ?@C>2= :? a_ad[ H9:=6 >@DE @7 46?EC2= 2?5 ?@CE96C? x==:?@:D H6C6 ` E@ `_ :?496D 5C:6C E92? ?@C>2=]k^Am

kAmu@==@H:?8 E96 >@DE E@C?25@6D @? C64@C5 DE2E6H:56 :? a_ac[ x==:?@:D 925 2?@E96C G6CJ 24E:G6 D6G6C6 H62E96C J62C[ 2E =62DE F?E:= yF=J] ~G6C2==[ E96 }~pp $E@C> !C65:4E:@? r6?E6C C6A@CE65 2 AC6=:>:?2CJ `ce E@C?25@6D :? a_ad[ 3FE E92E E@E2= H:== =:<6=J 564C62D6 367@C6 E96 @77:4:2= 4@F?E :D C6=62D65] |2C49 E9C@F89 yF?6 925 H6== 23@G6 2G6C286 E@C?25@ 7C6BF6?4J[ 7@==@H65 3J 2 =2C86 5C@A@77 :? E@C?25@6D[ 2?5 DE@C>D >@C6 86?6C2==J[ 36EH66? pF8FDE 2?5 }@G6>36C]k^Am

kAm%96 }~pp $E@C> !C65:4E:@? r6?E6C 2=D@ 925 `ef D6G6C6 92:= C6A@CED 2?5 ede D6G6C6 H:?5 C6A@CED :? x==:?@:D :? a_ad] $@>6 @7 E96 H:?5 C6A@CED 42>6 7C@> DEC@?8[ ?@?\E9F?56CDE@C> H:?5D E92E 42FD65 2 5FDE DE@C> :? 46?EC2= 2?5 ?@CE96C? x==:?@:D[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 4:EJ @7 r9:428@ :? >:5\|2J]k^Am

kAm(9:=6 a_ad 5:5 ?@E 3C62< 2?J D?@H72== C64@C5D 7@C E96 DE2E6[ :E H2D 4@?D:56C23=J D?@H:6C E92? C646?E J62CD] x? 724E[ a_ad H2D E96 7:CDE J62C H96C6 E96 DE2E6H:56 2G6C286 D?@H72== H2D 23@G6 E96 `hh`\a_a_ ?@C>2= D:?46 a_a`[ 2?5 H2D E96 D?@H:6DE J62C :? x==:?@:D D:?46 a_`h]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mxu%ik^DEC@?8m (92E 42? H6 6IA64E E@ D66 7@C E96 C6DE @7 H:?E6Cnk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mu~#sik^DEC@?8m |6E6@C@=@8:42= H:?E6C 6?5D :? EH@ 52JD Wu63] agX[ 3FE 36J@?5 E92E :E =@@<D =:<6 H6 H:== 92G6 2 >:=56C EC2?D:E:@? E@ DAC:?8 H:E9 36DE 492?46D @7 23@G6\2G6C286 E6>A6C2EFC6D E9C@F89 >F49 @7 |2C49] %96 @FE=@@<D 4@?E:?F6 E@ D9@H 2 >@C6 24E:G6 DE@C> EC24< H:E9 36EE6C 492?46D @7 AC64:A:E2E:@? :? 4@>:?8 H66<D ] ] ] =6EVD 9@A6 E92E :D ECF6Pk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mxu%ik^DEC@?8m (92E 5@ J@F 6IA64E E@ 92AA6? AC64:A:E2E:@?\H:D6 :? C682C5 E@ E96 @?8@:?8 5C@F89E 96C6 :? x==:?@:Dnk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mu~#sik^DEC@?8m #6=2E65 E@ E96 AC6G:@FD 2?DH6C[ E96 @FE=@@<D 2C6 2== 3F==:D9 @? H6EE6C H62E96C 8@:?8 :?E@ |2C49 2?5 E9C@F89 pAC:= 2?5 |2J] %96 D2>6 >@56=D H6C6 2=D@ 3F==:D9 @? 2 H6EE6C H:?E6C[ 2?5 E92E 46CE2:?=J 92D ?@E 366? E96 42D6]k^Am

kAm$@[ H9:=6 x 2> 9@A67F= H6 5@ 86E 2 >@C6 24E:G6 DE@C>EC24<[ 2?5 E96 @G6C2== 4@?5:E:@?D DF886DE H6 >2J[ x 2> DE:== 2 =:EE=6 96D:E2?E E@ 92G6 DEC@?8 4@?7:56?46 E92E E96 5C@F89E H:== 36 @G6C 4@>6 DF>>6C]k^Am

kAmtG6? :7 H6 5@ 86E D@>6 5646?E DAC:?8 C2:?D[ H6 92G6 D@>6 D6C:@FD 567:4:ED E@ >2<6 FA] (2E6C E23=6 =6G6=D 2?5 DEC62>7=@H 2C6 D9@H:?8 D6C:@FD D:8?D @7 5C@F89E[ 2?5 H6 2C6 962C:?8 7C@> >@C6 7@=<D 23@FE E96:C AC:G2E6 H6==D CF??:?8 5CJ]k^Am

kAm%96 5C@F89E :D BF:E6 D6C:@FD :? 46?EC2= 2?5 A2CED @7 D@FE96C? x==:?@:D[ D@ DAC:?8 C2:? :D 23D@=FE6=J ?646DD2CJ E@ 2G@:5 2 >@C6 6>6C86?4J\=:<6 D:EF2E:@?]k^Am

kAm~7 4@FCD6[ H:E9 4@C? 2?5 362?D[ 5CJ D@:=D :? DAC:?8 42? 6?4@FC286 DEC@?8 C@@E 8C@HE9 H9:49[ 2=@?8 H:E9 23F?52?E C2:?72== :? yF=J 2?5 pF8FDE[ 42? >2<6 2 8C62E 4C@A 56DA:E6 @G6C2== 5C@F89E 4@?5:E:@?D] $@[ 2E E9:D A@:?E[ >@DE @7 >J 5C@F89E 4@?46C? :D 7@C H2E6C C6D@FC46D 2?5 A6C6??:2= 28C:4F=EFC6[ =6DD D@ 7@C E96 4@>>@5:EJ 4C@AD]k^Am

kAmw@H6G6C[ E9@D6 D2>6 4@?5:E:@?D 42? 364@>6 G6CJ AC@3=6>2E:4 7@C 4C@AD :7 DF>>6C :D 2=D@ BF:E6 5CJ W=:<6 a_`aX] $@[ E96 2??F2= 4C@AD 4@F=5 36 A6C764E=J 7:?6 :? 5C@F89E D:EF2E:@?D :7 DF>>6C C2:?D 2C6 23F?52?E] w@H6G6C[ :7 2 5CJ DAC:?8 =625D :?E@ 2 9@E 2?5 5CJ DF>>6C[ H6 H@F=5 =:<6=J D66 >@C6 DF3DE2?E:2= 4C@A :>A24ED]k^Am