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Spotty rains will continue

An ag meteorologist says spotty rainfall is expected across the Corn Belt as summer begins.

Greg Soulje says the areas that get rain are expected to stay in a moisture deficit. And as hot and dry conditions persist, he says crop conditions could decline.

“In the next two to three weeks, as we get into the reproductive time for the corn crop, there may not be extreme heat, but the crop is working on declining subsoil moisture.”

Soulje says there are greater chances of rain for the Corn Belt heading into August.

“By then, it will probably be too late for the corn, but soybeans and pasture will probably benefit. Some of the eastern through southern Corn Belt locales are favored heading into August. There could be a tropical moisture maker that comes through.”

And he says the Delta and southeastern states have a decent chance of rain heading into July.

“If we get tropical features moving into the eastern and southern Corn Belt, that’s great, but it’s manufacturing those things that gets to be tricky.”

Soulje says it will be difficult to make up for any early season moisture deficit until later summer or early fall, when El Nino strengthens.