Ag Weather Forum

After the cool and wet spring which caused planting and development issues in the Midwest, the turn to more summery weather has been welcome by most producers. Increased growing degree days have been beneficial to improving corn development. Adequate to suplus soil moisture in both the subsoil and topsoil this spring has allowed crops to flourish despite the recent turn to drier weather, especially in parts of the western Corn Belt. And, extreme heat which has impacted the southern Plains and Texas shows no signs of moving into the Midwest.

Overall, weather patterns continue to look favorable for corn and soybeans in the Midwest during the second half of July. We look for some of the hotter and drier weather currently over the region due to the westward extension of the Bermuda high to give way to more moderate temperatures and scattered showers and thunderstorms later this week and next week as the Bermuda high weakens, and allows the jet stream over southern Canada to dip southward.

At this time, we see no major concern for crops in the Midwest going forward. However, we still have quite a ways to go with the growing season, and as we all know, things things can change quickly. However, based on what we know right now, it appears that concerns regarding late planting and slow develpement of crops this spring are diminshing rapidly as we move into midsummer.

Mike

(ES/)

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