Ag Weather Forum

The harvest of corn and soybeans in the western Midwest and northern Plains is running behind normal in part due to the late development of the crop, as well as rainfall.

Despite the fact that this rain has slowed the harvest, it has improved soil moisture levels after a dry summer. Harvest weather was favorable in the eastern Midwest. Producers are concentrating on soybeans at this time. Crop ratings changed little this past week, which is normal as crops mature.

The weather outlook calls for episodes of scattered showers and thunderstorms throughout the Midwest through the end of this week. At this time, the outlook for next week calls for near- to below-normal rainfall.

Winter wheat planting progress in the Southern plains is running behind normal. This is partly due to the active rainfall pattern that has become established. Wet weather is expected to continue through the end of the week. Next week looks drier which will make for nearly ideal planting and development conditions for the crop.

Finally, our eastern pacific sea surface temperature departure for the month of September was minus 0.8. This is down from the minus 0.3 observed during the month of August. The possible development of La Nina in the coming months is still on the table. For this reason, the recharge of soil moisture we are seeing now in the Midwest is welcome, despite the harvest delays.

Michael Palmerino can be reached at michael.palmerino@dtn.com

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