Meteorologist Dr. Elwyn Taylor predicts we're entering a period of weather "volatility"

Photo courtesy of Randy Uhl

Iowa State University agricultural meteorologist Dr. Elwyn Taylor says there's one thing that can be said about the weather--"It goes in cycles."

Taylor, who spoke Monday night at the annual meeting of the Winneshiek County Farm Bureau, says there has been a cycle of having consistent crop yields for 18 years and then having 25 years of weather "bouncing around."  He says that volatile cycle started in 2012--which would mean we can expect more of the same through 2037.

Taylor says farmers need to pay attention to yearly weather conditions and learn to ignore weekly weather.  That will allow them to buy low and sell high while ignoring daily or weekly ups and downs.

Taylor says USGA crop surveys are good measurements of where crop yields are expected to head.  "The market goes to the USDA numbers," he tells decorahnews.com.

"Growing degree days" are also a good way to keep track of how big a harvest will be, although Dr. Taylor prefers to think of them as "Development degree days," since they measure the weather's impact on crops.  Knowing how to interpret these figures can give farmers "a big edge," says Dr. Taylor.