News

Warm and mild Corn Belt forecast

Warm and mild weather is forecast over most of the Corn Belt the next two weeks.

USDA Midwest Climate Hub director Dennis Todey says the eastern Corn Belt is leaning a little to the dry side.

“Western part does look like it’s going to be continuing to get more active looking at the six to ten day and eight to fourteen day (forecast). And then the whole region is looking like it’s going to be warmer than average throughout much of the rest of May.”

He tells Brownfield the warmth should be welcome.

“In the middle of the summer we might be concerned about that (but) right now that’s probably not a bad situation because it allows some additional Growing Degree Days. And places where it is a little bit wet, we have had a little planting slowdown that will help dry that issue out.”

He expects similar conditions for the Delta.

“Lots of near normals, and then maybe a slight tilt on temperature and precipitation. But it doesn’t look like anything too much different overall.”

Todey says June looks to start out warmer than normal in the central part of the Corn Belt with little mention of precipitation across the Midwest.