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A spring of contrasting weather in the U.S. Corn Belt

An ag meteorologist says the U.S. Corn Belt is a land of contrasts this spring and the weather forecast isn’t going to help the situation.

Drew Lerner with World Weather Incorporated says flood waters are becoming a problem in the lower Ohio River Basin and northern Delta.

“We have a lot of standing water and the bottom lands are just really too wet. Those that aren’t standing in water are dealing with excessive mud.”

And Lerner says there is more rain in the forecast.

“For the areas so badly flooded, the rains aren’t going to be that great, probably half an inch to a max of 1.5 inches by the time we get to Monday, but any rain isn’t a good thing for these areas that have to dry out. Further delays in planting are expected.”

Lerner says timely rains should benefit crops being planted across northern Missouri, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska.

“Some of the moisture deficits built up in the recent weeks and month won’t completely go away, but we’ll get enough moisture in the topsoil to support aggressive early season fieldwork,” he says.

He says the more active weather pattern is expected for the next 10 days.