Where is the Drought Headed?

Who knows where the drought is headed for the coming growing season.  Yesterday (1/7/2013)  I check the National Weather Service data to see if there is a trend.  Below are the maps showing departures from "normal"  for the past 60, 90, and 120 days.  While rainfall amounts are still below average for the last 60 days across the corn belt I see some trending toward more average rainfall.  The trend at least leaves me somewhat hopeful for where we are headed.  Keep in mind that the amount of rainfall we need to raise a crop in 2013 is less than the amount of rainfall needed to fill ponds, wells, rivers, and streams.  Also, the prospects for the 2013 crop are subject as always to timeliness and amounts of rainfall that we get during the growing season.  In 2012, rainfall amounts during the corn growing season were dismally short and reflected in yields.  Rainfall amounts during the soybean growing season however kept our soybean yields respectable and in some cases exceptional. 

60 day rainfall Departure from Normal

90 day rainfall Departure from Normal

180 day rainfall Departure from Normal