Weather

Chilly, unsettled weather lingers across the eastern Corn Belt; fair, mild weather westward

Across the Corn Belt, unusually cool, windy conditions persist from the Mississippi Valley eastward.  In fact, Tuesday’s high temperatures in much of Michigan and Ohio will again remain below 50°F, accompanied by rain and snow showers.  Although national planting progress at the end of April—26% for corn and 19% for soybeans—remains at or ahead of schedule, activity has slowed in recent days, especially in the eastern Corn Belt.  Additionally, 5% or less of both corn and soybeans had been planted by April 30 in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Dakotas. 

On the Plains, chilly weather lingers across eastern portions of the region.  In fact, sub-freezing temperatures were noted again Tuesday morning in parts of Nebraska and much of the Dakotas.  In contrast, warmth has returned across the High Plains.  Dry weather throughout the region favors fieldwork, although high river levels, lowland flooding, and cool soils continue to limit planting in the eastern Dakotas and environs.  Despite last week’s rain on the central and southern Plains, U.S. winter wheat rated very poor to poor increased from 42 to 43% during the week ending April 30. 

In the South, dry weather accompanies a slow warming trend.  Lingering cool, breezy conditions are especially prominent from the Tennessee Valley to the middle Atlantic Coast.  National planting progress remains at or ahead of the 5-year average pace for Southern crops such as rice (63% planted on April 30) and cotton (15 percent).

In the West, cooler air continues to spread inland along and near the Pacific Coast, accompanied by a few rain and snow showers.  The cooler weather follows a week-long period of nearly ideal weather for fieldwork; in California, producers planted nearly two-thirds of their intended cotton acreage (an increase from 20 to 85% planted) during the week ending April 30.  Meanwhile, interior sections of the West are still experiencing very warm weather, with high-elevation snow melt leading to swiftly flowing creeks and streams. 

Add Comment

Your email address will not be published.


 

Stay Up to Date

Subscribe for our newsletter today and receive relevant news straight to your inbox!