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March brings drought relief for some, dryness for others

A meteorologist with Aura Commodities says much of the Midwest has benefited from a wet month of March.

Xander Lowry says the eastern Corn Belt has seen some needed relief from the lingering drought.

“It’s been improvement for sure.”  He says, “There’s portions of Illinois, especially the northern half of the state, that’s a bit drier. Iowa’s kind of in the same boat. Working into the northern plains, you know, the Dakotas, southern Minnesota, it’s a kind of similar idea, but overall, it’s definitely not a major concern, I would say, moving forward.”

He tells Brownfield the western Corn Belt has not been as fortunate.

“We’ve seen that drought really build in across Nebraska, Kansas, and Colorado.”  He says, “It’s been a big impact for the winter wheat out there. USDA’s good to excellent ratings came out earlier this week. Nebraska’s at the lowest ever it’s been at this time of year.”

Lowry says forecasts for the first half of April call for continued regular rains for the eastern Corn Belt, while continued dryness is expected in the western Belt.

“I think as you work more into the second half of April and especially into May, relief can come more in a widespread fashion across the central plains.”  He says, “Not great for the wheat crop, unfortunately, but it would set up the corn crop that will be planted out west.”

He says much of this growing season’s weather will depend on the strength and timing of the shift to an expected El Nino weather pattern later this summer.

AUDIO: Xander Lowry – Aura Commodities