Rain and snow have kept many farmers out of the fields, but the extra precipitation has served at least one good purpose: The drought is officially over.
While heavy rain and snow soak most of Wisconsin, the dark storm clouds do bring a silver lining. Virtually all of southern and southeastern Wisconsin is technically no longer in a drought.
Credit Dave Young (CC-BY) / http://www.flickr.com/photos/dcysurfer/8558551721/
The northern island of New Zealand is suffering from severe drought, meaning that other Dairy producers like Wisconsin can pick up slack in the global market.
Wisconsin dairy producers are in an unusual position: While still recovering from last year's drought, they could benefit from a country facing similar conditions.
About a dozen communities in Wisconsin have created task forces to address regional symptoms of climate change — specifically, higher temperatures, more winter precipitation, and more droughts.
Slightly above average snowfall in western Wisconsin should still result in a normal flood risk this spring, but it may not help much with relieving drought conditions.
Farmers saw significant damage in their fields from this year's drought. But, they're not letting a natural disaster change their springtime planting plans for 2013.
Two recent snowstorms that blanketed southern Wisconsin with up to 19 inches of snow and west central Wisconsin with up to 16 inches will help with the state’s drought conditions but by no means end it.
This summer’s drought affected crop yields statewide forcing many farmers to try something new. More and more farmers are taking an interest in planting cover crops, which improve water quality.
