MLRA 90 Central Wisconsin and Minnesota Thin Loess and Till

Minnesota and Wisconsin

55,750 km² (21,530 mi²)

Land Use

Except for the state and national forests and some Indian reservations, nearly all this area is in farms. Slightly more than one-fourth is cropland used mainly for growing feed grains and forage for dairy cattle. Potatoes, sweet corn, and canning peas are important cash crops. Other vegetables and fruits are grown locally. About one-sixth of the area is pasture and native grasses. Most of the remainder is forested, mainly farm woodlots and state and national forests. Forested areas are used for pulp and timber production and for recreation. Controlling erosion on steep slopes and improving drainage on wet soils are the principal concerns of management.

Elevation and Topography

Elevation ranges from 1000 to 1600 feet (300 to 500 meters). Locally, the level to rolling till plains are mantled by loess. The topography is irregular; there are nearly level outwash plains and lacustrine basins, low hills and ridges, and many lakes and organic deposits in basins. Local relief is mainly a few feet, but some hills rise more than 200 feet (50 meters) above the adjacent lowlands.

Climate

Average annual precipitation-25 to 30 inches (625 to 750 mm). Most of the precipitation falls during the growing season. Winter precipitation is mainly snow. Average annual temperature-39 to 45° F (4 to 7° C). Average freeze-free period - 120 to 140 days.

Water

The moderate precipitation generally is adequate for crops and pasture, but in dry years crops on sandy soils are damaged by a lack of moisture. Most of the wet lowland soils need to be drained for good crop and forage production. Ground water is abundant in deep glacial drift deposits but scarce in areas where the drift is thin. The many lakes and streams are also sources of water.

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