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Active spring weather likely during Plant 21

Farmers will likely see an active weather pattern in the Midwest this planting season.

Aaron Wilson is an atmospheric scientist at Ohio State University.

“We’re anticipating this active pattern to remain through our planting season in March, April, and May,” he says. “So, there could be some difficulties in terms of suitable fieldwork conditions and suitable field conditions to get out there to plant and certainly any heavier rainfall that comes along with that melting snowpack.”

As for the longer-term forecast….”we still expect above average temperatures, which can help dry out those soils especially once we get into June and July, but we also have a greater probability across the Eastern Corn Belt of having above average precipitation even into the growing season,” Wilson says. “This is not necessarily a bad situation. Plenty of moisture and warmer temperatures could be a good thing if we can get planted and get planted efficiently.”

Wilson spoke during the Conservation Tillage and Technology Conference.