October 13, 2011
Showers delay US corn, soy harvest
The mid-week showers in the US Midwest will slow down its corn and soy harvest, but it will be brief, according to an agricultural meteorologist Wednesday (Oct 12).
Don Keeney, meteorologist for MDA EathSat Weather said that there are some rains today and tomorrow in most of the Midwest and eastern Plains with the bulk of the rainfall in the west central and eastern Midwest including Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota and western Illinois.
Keeney said roughly 80% of the Midwest would receive the rainfall and amounts would range from 0.25-1.00 inch, with locally heavier amounts.
The rains should end by late Thursday and mostly dry weather was expected to return to the Midwest through next week, he said.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) late Tuesday said 33% of the US corn crop had been harvested, up from 21% a week ago and up from the 32% five-year average.
The soy harvest stood at 51% complete, up from 19% a week ago and the 46% five-year average.
Dry weather returned to the Plains hard red winter wheat region in the wake of weekend rains that gave a temporary lift to wheat seeding and emergence.
Keeney said that the weekend rains helped, but more rain is needed and it looks dry so you can expect conditions to deteriorate.
USDA on Tuesday said 59% of the US winter wheat crop had been planted, up from 42% a week ago and down from the 67% five-year average. 28% of the crop had emerged, up from 16% a week ago and below the 38% five-year average.