The 2nd Annual "Climate Adaptation Exchange," held on February 8th in Tifton, GA, engaged more than 100 producers and extension specialists from Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina in presentations and discussions of management strategies that can make production systems more efficient and less susceptible to climate challenges. Both State Climatologist David Zierden and Assistant State Climatologist Melissa Griffin were in attendance to help answer climate-related questions and highlight their ongoing participation with the Southeast Climate Consortium's online climate risk decision support tool: AgroClimate. One of the goals for the Adaptation Exchange was that participants would learn how alternative management strategies can make production more efficient, profitable, and resilient to climate variability.

Assistant State Climatologist Melissa Griffin took part in activities at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory Open House on February 16th. Nearly 5,000 people attended the event and were able to tour the Mag Lab and take part in different experiments throughout the day. Ms. Griffin, along with Meredith Field, Caroline Johansen, Robbie Nedbor-Gross, Alexandra Keclik and Lauren Zuromski from the Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies and the Deep-C Consortium, presented a variety of hands-on atmospheric and oceanographic demonstrations. Ms. Griffin also talked about the CoCoRaHS Program, discussed severe weather, led some simulations of fronts and air masses using a density flow model, created indoor clouds and even quizzed attendees about Florida's climate.

Florida State Climatologist David Zierden was a featured speaker at the 14th annual Wiregrass Cotton Expo in Dothan, Alabama, on February 15th. The Cotton Expo is hosted by Auburn University Extension and is an opportunity for growers to think strategically about all facets of their cotton program, from variety selection and planting to getting a handle on pest and weed problems. Presenters cover a wide range of topics with information on potential markets, varieties, and pest control. David Zierden presented on climate impacts and risks to the cotton crops and how we can predict the winter and spring climate patterns based on sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean. This year's message was that the Pacific is in the neutral phase and we are not prone to be either wetter or drier in the coming months. He also warned that rainfall in May has become significantly less in the past 25 years and farmers should plan for lack of rainfall we normally see in April and May. One strategy is to plant cotton as early as possible to take advantage of existing soil moisture before the spring dry season hits.

University of Florida Extension's Jefferson County Office hosted the 7th meeting of the Tri-State Row Crop Working Group in Monticello, Florida, on February 22. The focus of this meeting was field demonstration of high-residue cover crops and their value in protecting soils from the risk of drought and heavy rains, a normal part of the north Florida climate. Several farmers recounted their experiences with the heavy cover crops and how it helped boost production, especially in drier years. State Climatologist David Zierden has been a key member of this working group and presented information on climate extremes, including heavy rainfall, extended dry periods, and extreme temperatures. He wrapped up with a synopsis of the climate patterns to date in the area and a forecast for the upcoming spring and early summer. The primary message was that, while we are in the neutral ENSO phase in the Pacific Ocean, May rainfall has decreased significantly in the last 25 years and we should prepare for the April-May dry season.