Catahoula News Booster, January 6, 2021, Page 5A Spring 2021 Weather Outlook Calls for Dry Conditions The good news: the driest spring planting con- then slowly abate in 2021. The weather effects Belt; 2021 will very likely be the warmest in nine ditions in nine years. The bad news: a very dry will continue well into summer 2021, and this years, fifth warmest in 35-plus years. The risk for year continuing in 2021. is a drought cycle. It is good news for the driest a late freeze after planting is low in 2021. With Four major climate cycles started aligning spring planting in nine years across the United below-average national snowfall and very limit- in 2020, bringing a dramatic shift toward drier States and the Corn Belt, but ultimately leads to ed snow cover this winter, it sounds like a dusty weather across North and South America; the ex- slow emergence and risk to yields for many as planting season ahead. In warmer and drier ception was the hurricane-plagued soggy south- the season progresses. spring seasons like this, it will be very important east United States. The other major cycles are This is a big shift from the past two years, to consider a more droughttolerant seed variety the cold phase of the North Pacific cycle called when 36% of the country had dry to drought-like along with more herbicides and insecticides as the Pacific decadal oscillation cycle, a continued conditions by Memorial Day 2020 and only 9% the weeds and bugs will also be out in force early. warm phase of the Atlantic multi-decadal oscilla- in May 2019. It’s very likely we’ll have a period Unfortunately, this pattern suggests another tion cycle, and the weakest solar minimum sun in 2021 when the United States tops 70% of the very active hurricane season in 2021 with Florida cycle in more than 100 years. It is rare for all the country in D1-D4 drought phases. more likely in the crosshairs as opposed to the cycles and statistical trends to align – a 100-year Spring 2021 planting conditions are more like- North Central Gulf, which had a record number event in some respects. ly to resemble 2002, 2012, and 2013, when over of hurricane landfalls in 2020. A mild and wetter The first cycle is the unusually strong La Niña 60% of the country was in dry phases by May, winter and spring across Florida very likely brings that is now trending much greater than mod- a wholesale change from the past five years of favorable conditions for the spread of HLB – cit- els had suggested just a few months ago. The moderately wet planting conditions. rus greening – with favorable conditions for both colder-than-normal equatorial Pacific Ocean Last year, spring planting was the coldest in the spread of the bacteria and insects that carry temperatures will likely peak this winter and over 35 years and third snowiest across the Corn it to other trees.

Build a Strong Family Building a strong family is like building a house: We do it brick by brick, one day at a time. Here are some "bricks" that I try to focus on an- nually in January. I get inspired with these little reminders, as I adjust my thinking and goals for my family of five, and also for my extended fam- ily as it grows and changes with the seasons and the years. IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT YIELD BIG RE- SULTS: It's the little things we remember from childhood, like sledding with Mom, jumping into a pile of leaves with Dad or making pancakes COVID Hits Our Wallets with an uncle on a Saturday morning. You can learn all kinds of things from surveys, MAKE THE ORDINARY EXTRAORDINARY: Stop * On Jan. 7, 1789, Congress sets today as and not all of them are good. and take a moment with children to appreciate the date by which states are required to choose A recent SimplyWise bi-monthly survey the joy and wonder of the world around them. electors for the country's first-ever presidential showed that 35% of seniors age 60 and older LOOK THROUGH A DIFFERENT PAIR OF election. A month later, on Feb. 4, George Wash- are willing to risk getting COVID in order to work. GLASSES: Everyone has a unique frame of refer- ington was elected president by state electors Of those who are over age 50, only 27% have ence. Encourage kids to see things from another and sworn into office April 30. put any money aside recently for retirement. point of view. * On Jan. 10, 1901, a drilling derrick at Spin- Nearly half could not last one month off their SHARE WHAT YOU LOVE WITH KIDS: Parents dletop Hill near Beaumont, Texas, produces an savings. and other significant adults in their lives are enormous gusher of crude oil, signaling the ad- The number of people who plan to keep kids' No. 1 teachers. You're an expert on some- vent of the American oil industry. The geyser working after starting to collect Social Security thing. Share your talent or hobby with kids. flowed at an initial rate of 100,000 barrels a day. benefits just keeps rising, up to 74% at the time TEACH, BUT NEVER STOP LEARNING: Learn- Today, only a few oil wells still operate in the of the survey. ing is a two-way street. Don't know how to area. Due to finances, 17% of us are considering snowboard? Having trouble with an app you * On Jan. 5, 1920, the New York Yankees an- selling our homes. just downloaded? Chances are your kids can nounce the purchase of heavy-hitting outfielder I scarcely know where to begin. Between se- help you out. George Herman "Babe" Ruth from the Boston niors willing to risk getting COVID to keep work- MAKE A MESS A MINUTE: Kids love a good Red Sox for $125,000. Ruth had played six sea- ing, seniors contemplating selling their homes mess. Let's face it -- mess is often the sign of a sons with the Red Sox, leading them to three and seniors not able to make it through even good time. Relax, and enjoy moments of discov- World Series titles. one month on savings -- it's a dismal picture. ery and creation. * On Jan. 6, 1936, Porky Pig makes his world My thoughts on how to cut back on expens- CARRY ON TRADITIONS, AND START YOUR debut in a Warner Brothers cartoon, "Gold Dig- es and save money during COVID seem inade- OWN: Traditions connect us through gener- gers of '49." When Mel Blanc joined Warner quate, but here they are: ations. It might be a special candlestick that Brothers the following year, he became the fa- * Stop impulse on line purchases that you comes out once a year, a recipe, a special way mous voice behind Porky as well as Bugs Bunny, make out of boredom. of saying "Thank you." Share the old and create Daffy Duck, Sylvester and Tweety. * Ask your auto insurance agent about dis- the new in 2021. * On Jan. 8, 1966, ABC's rock and roll TV vari- counts, since your driving is minimal now. GIVE THE GIFT OF TIME: The formative years ety show "Shindig" airs its last episode. The show * Double down on asking for senior discounts matter. The moments you spend with the chil- had debuted in September 1964, featuring acts for everything. dren in your life now will help mold them into including the Everly Brothers, the Rolling Stones * Don't buy any new clothes (or even a new giving, resourceful and caring adults. and The Beach Boys. winter coat) if you're home all the time anyway. Find more recipes and family fun at www. * On Jan. 9, 1972, a fire breaks out aboard the * Take your former entertainment budget donnaerickson.com. Write to Donna at Info@ lavish Queen Elizabeth, and by the next morning (dinner and a movie out) and keep the cash. donnaerickson.com the world's largest passenger ship lies in a wreck * If you're signed up for video streaming ser- (c) 2021 Donna Erickson on the bottom of Hong Kong harbor. Launched in vices you rarely use, cut all but one. Distributed by King Features Syndicate 1938, the Queen Elizabeth steamed across the * Consider selling a second vehicle if it still ocean as a troop transport during World War II. has payments. * On Jan. 4, 1999, 11 nations adopt a single * Make a ritual of studying the weekly gro- currency, the euro, and "locked in" their ex- cery sales. change rates relative to each other and to the None of these things alone will amount to euro. At midnight, their currencies officially much, but taken together they will keep more ceased to exist. cash in your pocket. (c) 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved (c) 2021 King Features Synd., Inc.