Long-Range Weather Outlooks for Plains Winter Wheat and Cotton
Makens Weather, led by meteorologist Matt Makens, provides long-range weather and climate outlooks for winter wheat and cotton producers across the Great Plains. Matt focuses on seasonal patterns driven by El Niño, La Niña and other teleconnections, which shape moisture, temperature and drought risk across the region's dryland crops.
Winter wheat: from planting to harvest
Winter wheat on the Plains depends on fall moisture for establishment, winter conditions for survival, and spring rainfall for yield. Matt's outlooks cover each stage: fall planting moisture, winterkill and freeze risk, spring green-up and freeze timing, and the drought pattern heading into harvest.
Wheat pasture and grazing
For operations that graze cattle on wheat, the fall and winter outlook decides how much forage there will be and how long cattle can stay on it. Matt's work connects wheat outlooks with grazing and cattle decisions, the same audience he serves on Weather Outlooks for PRF and Annual Forage Insurance Decisions.
Cotton: planting moisture and summer heat
Plains cotton, especially in West Texas and Oklahoma, depends on pre-plant soil moisture, rainfall at planting time, and summer heat and drought. Seasonal outlooks help producers judge planting conditions and the risk of a hot, dry summer.
El Niño, La Niña and the Plains
ENSO is one of the strongest seasonal signals for the southern and central Plains. La Niña winters often run drier there, which matters for wheat, while the ENSO phase heading into summer can shape cotton-season rainfall. Matt explains what the current phase typically means and when its influence is likely to fade.
What Makens Weather provides
Seasonal outlooks for wheat and cotton regions of the Plains
ENSO and teleconnection analysis in plain language
Drought monitoring and outlook updates
Presentations for grower meetings, co-ops and industry groups
Matt Makens is a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist through the American Meteorological Society, with more than 25 years of forecasting experience.
Frequently asked questions
How often does Makens Weather update its winter wheat outlook? Makens Weather updates its winter wheat outlook through the season.
How does La Niña affect winter wheat? La Niña often brings drier, warmer winters to the southern Plains, which can raise drought stress and lower wheat condition.
What does the summer outlook mean for West Texas cotton? Summer heat and rainfall drive dryland cotton yields. Makens Weather provides seasonal outlooks ahead of planting to help producers gauge the risk.
Who provides long-range weather forecasts for wheat and cotton growers? Makens Weather, led by meteorologist Matt Makens, provides long-range outlooks and presentations for Plains wheat and cotton producers. Contact