Heat Going Into June Will Increase Soil Moisture Troubles

The final full week of May was the driest in 30+ years for the U.S. Corn belt, according to data from WeatherTrends360.

The dryness is favorable for fieldwork and a majority of corn planting has wrapped up across the main-producing states, now farmers are shifting their focus to moisture. Recent dry conditions have increase the in various regions with areas including abnormally dry to drought conditions are cropping up on the United States Drought Monitor.

Abnormally dry conditions are seeping into eastern portions of Iowa, Illinois, and western Indiana. These areas will likely degrade further, and abnormally dry conditions could be expanded in the next Drought Monitor report on June 1.

Temperature-wise, the final week of May was slightly warmer than normal across the Corn Belt. Hotter weather was sustained across the northern Plains, but fluctuated across the core of the Corn Belt. Soil temperatures are well within the required range for germination. Indeed, the USDA Crop Progress report, with data through May 21 reported corn emergence is ahead of last year and the 5-year average.

As May closes out and June begins, the heat will shift farther east and south into the core of the Corn Belt. The start of June, week-ending June 3, will be the third hottest in 30+ years, according to data from WeatherTrends360.

Source: agriculture.com

Photo Credit: GettyImages-Zoran Zeremski