MLRA 91 Wisconsin and Minnesota Sandy Outwash

Minnesota and Wisconsin

52,780 km² (20,380 mi²)

Land Use

About 90 percent of this area is in farms. About 10 percent, mostly in Wisconsin, is state and federally owned. Nearly one-third of the area is cropland. Feed grains and forage for livestock are the main crops, but truck crops are also important. Potatoes and canning crops such as snap beans, peas, and corn are commonly grown under irrigation. Cranberries are grown on some wet soils. About one-tenth of the area is forested and used mainly for pulp and timber production. These forested areas and associated lakes and streams provide recreation facilities. Controlling soil blowing and conserving moisture on sandy soils, improving drainage on wet soils, and maintaining soil fertility are major concerns of management.

Elevation and Topography

Elevation is about 1000 feet (300 meters). Topography ranges from uniformly level areas in some places to irregular nearly level and gently rolling areas. In Minnesota many lakes are in basins and depressions. Local relief throughout the area is mostly from 3 to 33 feet (1 to 10 meters).

Climate

Average annual precipitation,-About 25 inches (625 mm) in Minnesota and 30 to 32 inches (750 to 825 mm) in Wisconsin. Most of the precipitation falls during the growing season. Precipitation in winter is snow. Average annual temperature-39 to 45° F (4 to 7° C). Average freeze-free period -125 to 145 days.

Water

In years of normal precipitation, the moderate precipitation is inadequate for crops and pasture on sandy soils. In years of little or no precipitation, crop yields are seriously reduced. Irrigation is widely used for high-value crops. The wet lowland soils need to be drained for good crop production. Ground water is abundant in the glacial deposits.

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