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Cooler wx and crop development concern

A cool down in temperatures could slow down corn and soybean development where it is already behind.  USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says those crops need warmth.  He says, “We already see some fairly significant crop delays in the corn areas, especially across the northern tier. The amount of corn reaching the denting stage is quite a bit behind normal, almost Midwest-wide and especially across the Northern Corn Belt.”

Rippey says soybean delays are not as significant but there’s still some concern. “Still,” he says, “With this cool weather arriving and expected to stay for at least a couple of weeks we are looking at the potential for falling even further behind the curve in terms of crop development for corn and soybeans.”

Rippey says the summer of 2014 will be known for cold Canadian fronts. The next one is forecast to begin this coming weekend and last for about two weeks. He says there is not a widespread frost concern yet…but continued cooler weather could make crops more vulnerable to an early freeze later on.

~USDA