A number of plants are growing oddly "out of season".
Observation: I have noticed for the past year now, our weather in Iowa is changing. As a result, a number of plants are growing oddly "out of season". For example, last November, ON Thanksgiving day, my neighbors' rose bushes were in full bloom. In Iowa, this holiday is usually marked with very cold and possibly snowy weather. Not in 2016! Actually, it did not get really cold here until December, and then in February, it was already thawing out and tulips were coming up! We had three significant snow storms the entire winter. Again, unusual for this part of the country. Now, just two days ago, I heard the cicadas chirping. That has always marked August, right before the school year starts. The first week of July is too early for them. None of this is scientific. I am not a scientist. But I did grow up on a farm and still live in a fairly rural area. My brother still farms our home place-and he is seeing it too! Crops that normally are not even begun to be planted until April were going in this year in March, without issue. I am 53 years old and I have never seen these things here before!
Resources:
Iowa Department of Natural Resources – "Climate Change refers to any significant change in the measures of climate lasting for an extended period of time. This includes major changes in temperature, precipitation, wind patterns, or other effects that occur several decades or longer."
Among the climate changes Iowa is already experiencing are:
- Increased frequency of precipitation extremes that lead to flooding.
- Long-term winter temperatures have increased six times more than summer temperatures.
- Climate extremes, not averages, have the greater impact on crop and livestock productivity.
- Plants are leafing out and flowering sooner.
- Birds are arriving earlier in the spring.
- Particular animals are now being sighted farther north than in the past.
- Increases in heart and lung programs from increasing air pollutants of ozone and fine particles enhanced by higher temperatures.
- Increases in infectious diseases transmitted by insects that require a warmer, wetter climate.
- An increase prevalence of asthma and allergies.
The information can be found on Iowa DNR, Conservation, Climate Change website.
Iowa Soil Health Field Guide – "This soil health field guide is the product of the collaborative efforts of Iowa State University and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Iowa. Source: Iowa State University, Extension and Outreach.
M. Tcheripanoff
Observations From Members 