Farm Forum Forecast: Wet, Mild
Inland Northwest farmers and home gardeners can expect a wet, mild spring and summer, but the Midwest may be slipping into a damaging period of drought not seen in 40 years, a meteorologist told Inland Northwest farmers Wednesday.
“The possibility of crop losses in the central United States are great,” said Art Douglas, chairman of the Creighton University atmospheric science department. “We’re way overdue for a return to dryness in that area.”
The Omaha, Neb., meteorologist, who has had uncanny accuracy predicting U.S. weather patterns in the past, spoke to 400 people attending the 1996 Ag Expo and Pacific Northwest Farm Forum.
Douglas said a moist, warm jet stream originating over Southeast Asia is bringing higher rainfall and milder climate than normal to the Pacific Northwest. This pattern should continue until August unless a new El Nino - a warm body of ocean water - moves north from South America, disrupting the path of the jet stream.
Blue skies, good crop prices, a new arena and exotic animals are pulling in near-record attendance at the Ag Expo/Farm Forum.
About 5,000 people attended the first two days, putting the downtown Spokane event on course to challenge the record 7,200 tickets sold in 1989, when the Ag Trade Center opened. Ag Expo/Farm Forum ends today at 4 p.m.
“It’s the best show we’ve ever had,” boasted Farm Forum vice chairman Rich Baden. “When farmers got money, this town sees a difference.”
Elinor Johnson, chairman of the Farm Forum, said farmers have come to get their first peek at the new Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, while Spokane residents are attracted to live buffalo and other exhibits. Dry weather also may have boosted the turnout.
“You couldn’t ask for better weather than this,” Johnson said.
About 500 Spokane school children will visit Ag Expo today, attending a two-hour Future Farmers of America presentation at Cavanaugh’s Inn at the Park before touring the exhibits.
Ag Expo opens at 10 a.m. today at the Spokane Convention Center, Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena and Red Lion City Center. A Farm Forum agri-business lunch, featuring British farmer Rowan Cherrington begins at 11:45 a.m. at the WestCoast Ridpath Hotel.
, DataTimes