1/17/25 - The Best and Worst of 2024, Annual Weather Superlatives show

Jan 17, 2025

This podcast episode was recorded on January 17th, 2025, at the Practical Farmers of Iowa conference. The hosts, Dan Fillius, Justin Glisan, and Madelynn Wuestenberg, presented an annual review of Iowa's weather and its impact on specialty crops in 2024.

Weather Overview:

• 2024 was the 5th warmest year on record for Iowa
• The state experienced its second warmest winter
• Iowa received about 37 inches of precipitation, making it the 29th wettest year on record
• A record 125 tornadoes were recorded in 2024, with the Greenfield EF4 tornado being particularly severe

Crop Impacts:

• The warm winter led to better pest survival, affecting crops like tomatoes and sweet corn
• Early season rain made pest control challenging and disrupted planting schedules
• Aster yellows disease was widespread, affecting various crops including garlic, carrots, and flowers
• Onions were identified as the worst-performing crop statewide due to various issues
• Spring carrots and Lacinato kale were noted as the best-performing crops

Notable Weather Events:

• Drought conditions ended across Iowa after 200 consecutive weeks
• Extreme humidity was recorded on August 26-27, with dew points as high as 86°F
• Significant flooding occurred in northwest Iowa on June 22nd
• The hottest temperature recorded was 102°F in Little Sioux on June 24th
• The coldest temperature was -28°F in Primghar on January 14th

Pest and Disease Issues:

• Various mite species, including crown mites, broad mites, and cyclamen mites, were significant pests
• Aster yellows disease affected multiple crops across the state
• Carrot rust fly was noted as an issue for carrot growers

The episode concluded with a Q&A session addressing topics such as long-term climate predictions, sunspot activity, and recommendations for adapting to climate change in agriculture