The summer temperatures across the nation’s midsection have trended below normal. A swath of territory from Minnesota through Iowa, Missouri, and the southern plains has averaged several degrees below average.
The U.S. Drought Monitor shows near-normal soil moisture conditions across the same region. Even western states look far better than previous years despite abnormally dry conditions with pockets of excessive dryness across portions of Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico, and west Texas.
The long-term drought scenario indicates most of Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin should remain unusually moist. Subsoil moisture remains above average across AgCountry’s territory heading into the month of August.
Total growing degree days across our region have 1,500 to 2,000 in most areas. That’s slightly below average compliments of the cooler and wetter weather so far this summer.
River levels are finally receding after unprecedented summer flooding across the Mississippi River and other major tributaries.
Almost 65% to 70% of the corn crop has reached silking stage nationwide. That is 5 percentage points ahead of average. The corn crop is coming along as 75% of the crop is rated as good to excellent at this point.
Soybeans are also making progress as 70% of the crop has reached the blooming stage at the time of this article, with over 70% of the crop rated good to excellent condition.
Looking Ahead
El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) neutral conditions continue across the Pacific Ocean delaying the onset of La Niña until September through November. We are still anticipating the advent of La Niña to impact the winter season of 2024-2025.
The 90-day outlook is still indicating near to slightly above normal temperatures across our region with slightly drier weather potentially returning across the region heading into the later half of summer and early fall.
