Ag Weather Forum

After the most favorable week so far this spring for planting in much of the Midwest this week conditions will be deteriorating significantly during the next 7 days due to a combination of wet and cold weather. Last week we were talking about poor planting conditions due to cool, wet weather north of Interstate 80. We have now shifted this line further to the north to Interstate 90. This would include the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. This is the region that much of the attention will turn to in the next few weeks as to whether the acreage that was expected to be planted to corn in these states in fact does. This is setting up to be the swing area for corn production this year.

There is a bit of good news for the southern Plains winter wheat belt. Models have been increasing rainfall potential for central portions of Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas for late weekend and early next week. If significant rain occurs it could still benefit some of the crop, especially in central Kansas where crop development is not as far along as it is in Oklahoma and Texas due to heat and drought stress. Some light to moderate rainfall is possible with this event in the very dry western areas, not enough to significantly help this crop. Behind this rain event a shot of cold air is expected during the middle of next week. This could be threatening to heading wheat in Kansas. We will know more after seeing the crop report on Monday afternoon updating heading progress across the state by district.

Mike

(ES/AG/CZ)

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