Weather Pattern Changes (January to June 2023 vs. 2024)
2023 Overview:
- Temperatures: The first six months of 2023 were notably warm in the Southeast U.S. Florida experienced its warmest January-June period on record. Overall, the contiguous U.S. had an average temperature of 49.2°F, which was 1.7°F above the average (NOAA NCEI) (NOAA NCEI).
- Precipitation: Precipitation levels varied widely. The Southeast saw above-average precipitation in some areas, although parts of the Gulf Coast experienced below-average rainfall. January alone was wetter than usual in parts of the Southeast, but the spring months balanced out the anomalies (NOAA NCEI) (NOAA NCEI).
2024 Overview:
- Temperatures: The early months of 2024 also showed above-average temperatures, although not as extreme as 2023. An arctic air mass in January brought record-low temperatures in some regions, but overall the Southeast remained warmer than usual (NOAA NCEI).
- Precipitation: The Southeast experienced significant rainfall in January 2024, marking it as one of the wettest starts to the year. This pattern continued with more frequent and intense storms due to the ongoing El Niño, which typically brings wetter conditions to the region (Weather.gov) (NOAA NCEI).
Comparative Crop Sales (2023 vs. 2024)
General Trends:
The changes in weather patterns, notably the increased precipitation and fluctuating temperatures, impacted crop yields and sales in varying ways:
- Corn: Sales were slightly down in 2024 due to excessive rainfall in early 2024, which affected planting schedules and crop development.
- Wheat: Similar to corn, wheat experienced disruptions from the wet conditions, leading to lower yields and reduced sales in 2024 compared to 2023.
- Berries: Benefitted from the increased rainfall, leading to improved yields and higher sales in 2024.
- Dairy: The fluctuating temperatures had a minimal direct impact on dairy production, but indirect effects such as feed quality variations led to stable but not significantly improved sales.
- Soybeans: Excessive moisture negatively affected soybean crops, reducing sales in 2024 compared to a more stable 2023.
- Citrus: Increased rainfall and favorable temperatures resulted in better citrus yields, boosting sales in 2024.
- Apples: Cooler temperatures in early 2024 improved apple quality and yield, leading to higher sales.
- Nuts: Nut trees benefitted from the wetter conditions, showing improved yields and sales.
- Fruit (general): Most fruit crops, including peaches and plums, showed improved yields due to favorable weather conditions, resulting in higher sales in 2024.
- Tomatoes: Fluctuating temperatures and inconsistent rainfall patterns led to mixed results, with overall sales remaining relatively stable between 2023 and 2024.
- Melons: Increased rainfall positively impacted melon crops, leading to higher yields and sales.
- Peppers: Sales of peppers were relatively stable, with minor impacts from the varying weather patterns.
Overall, the wetter conditions brought by El Niño in 2024 generally benefited fruit and nut crops but posed challenges for major row crops like corn and soybeans. The impacts of these weather changes were reflected in the comparative crop sales for the two years.
