Some late-maturing corn and soy crops may be affected by the first major US snowfall of the year and a cold snap set to sweep into the northern Midwest which could delay the harvest.

 

An agricultural meteorologist and the National Weather Service said on Thursday (Oct 4) that the storm is centred in a small area across north eastern North Dakota and north western Minnesota, including the fertile Red River Valley, where farmers are still harvesting their corn and soy crops after the worst drought in half a century devastated US grain this year.

 

Minnesota is the third largest soy producing state in the US and the fourth largest corn state, based on its harvest last year. North Dakota ranks number 10 in soy production.

 

"There is rain changing to snow in the upper Red River Valley of eastern North Dakota and northwest Minnesota. It's a small geographical area that grows mainly spring wheat and soy," said John Dee, meteorologist for Global Weather Monitoring.

 

He said from 5-8 inches of snow was expected by late Thursday (Oct 4) with locally heavier amounts. "It's an isolated storm and unique for this time of year. The snow should begin melting beginning Friday through the weekend," he said.

 

As of Monday, 36% of North Dakota's corn crop had been harvested and 80% of the soy crop had been harvested, according to the state crop progress report. In Minnesota, 53% of the corn crop had been harvested and 76% of the soy crop.

 

The US National Weather Service (NWS) on Thursday said that a rapidly intensifying storm is expected to bring snow along with strong gusty winds in north western Minnesota.

 

Following the storm, cold air will plunge farther to the south and east during the next few days dropping temperatures well below normal especially in the northern high plains and the nearby mountains where light snow is expected to linger, according to the NWS.

 

Harvesting of the US spring wheat crop is complete and the USDA on Monday (Oct 1) said 94% of the US corn crop was mature, above the 72% 5-year average and 85% of the soy crop was dropping leaves or mature, above the 5-year average of 77%.

 

Corn and soy crops are well above normal maturity schedules due to early seedings and as the worst drought in more than 50 years pushed each crop to mature status. Farmers have been harvesting each crop at a record pace based on advanced maturity and the low yields following the drought.

 

USDA on Monday said 54% of the corn crop had been harvested, up from the 20% 5-year average, and 41% of the soy crop was harvested above the 19% 5-year average. Cold weather was moving into the Midwest as well and the first major freeze of the season is expected by the weekend.

 

Dee said the cold air mass was moving into the Midwest and roughly the northern two-thirds of the crop region will experience freezing to below-freezing temperatures early Sunday (Oct 7) and Monday (Oct 8) mornings.

 

"Temperatures should be in the 28-32 degree range (Fahrenheit) in the central Midwest and colder north of there," he said.

 

Light rains later this week and again late next week will cause minor slowdowns in harvest of the US corn and soy crops, according to Dee.

 

Dee said showers of 0.20 inch to 0.60 inch were expected Friday and Saturday in the Midwest with heaviest amounts in the south and east. "A similar amount of rain and in the same locations is likely about mid to late next week," Dee added.