The measurement of the depth of Wisconsin's frozen soils are due to a unique frost depth survey made possible by the cooperation of cemetery caretakers and funeral directors in Wisconsin who collect the data while digging graves. Their comments about the frost penetration, snow cover, soil moisture content, and related factors are useful in monitoring the conditions of hay and pastures, as well as small grains planted in the fall. Knowledge of frost depth also permits more accurate predictions of the spring runoff from snot melt and beginning of spring fieldwork. Contractors, commercial industries, insurance companies and particularly utilities with underground facilities such as water and gas also have need for this type of information. Recent development of good snowmaking equipment has also made the tourist industry very interested in this information.
The collection of this data is a joint project between the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences of the University of Wisconsin, the University of Wisconsin Extension, and the Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA). Since previous frost depth collecting methods were so laborious and the visual method so accurate, it was decided to solicit the cooperation of funeral directors and cemetery officials. Development of the mailing list was difficult. It was accomplished through information supplied by the Wisconsin State Board of Health which licenses all Wisconsin funeral directors and by the 72 county cooperative extension agents. Since soil cover affects the frost penetration, all cemeteries have sod cover so frost depths can be compared with confidence. The Snow and Frost Depth report is published bi-weekly from November 1 to April 1 by the Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics Service during the months when the normal Crop Weather is not published. They summarize the data from some 225 faithful and reliable reporters and maintain long term records for each site. Comparisons with long term depths make each year's results more meaningful.
Arthur E. Peterson Professor Emeritus Department of Soil Science University of Wisconsin 1525 Observatory Drive Madison, WI 53706-1299 Phone: (608) 262-2631 Fax: (608) 265-2595 E-mail: aepeters@facstaff.wisc.edu