Weather

Weather allows fieldwork to advance in some areas

Across the Corn Belt, dry weather accompanies near- to below-normal temperatures. Midwestern fieldwork, including planting activities, has begun to advance in recent days, although variable field conditions have resulted in uneven progress. By April 22, corn planting had not yet begun in many Midwestern States, including Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, and the Dakotas.

On the Plains, producers in western Oklahoma and portions of neighboring states continue to monitor the positive impact of recent rainfall on rangeland, pastures, and winter grains, which were severely stressed by winter and early-spring drought, wind, and temperature extremes. Meanwhile, some spring fieldwork is finally getting underway on the northern Plains, where snow has finally melted and soils are slowly warming.

In the South, cool, rainy weather prevails from the Tennessee Valley to the central Gulf Coast. In between storms, Southern producers continue to plant summer crops, including corn, cotton, peanuts, rice, and sorghum.

In the West, warm, dry weather continues to promote crop development and an acceleration of fieldwork. Although Idaho led the nation with 40% of its intended spring wheat acreage planted by April 22, the 5-year average for that date is 64%. Washington’s spring wheat was 39% planted, versus 67% on average.

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