Weather

A record-setting pace to U.S. corn harvest

On the Plains, unusually warm weather continues to promote winter wheat development across southern areas. However, extremely dry conditions persist across the northwestern half of the Plains. On October 14, winter wheat emergence was at least 20 percentage points behind the 5-year average in Colorado (51% emerged versus the average of 72%), Montana (25 vs. 53%), Nebraska (47 vs. 77%), and South Dakota (11 vs. 67%).

Across the Corn Belt, cool conditions linger across the lower Great Lakes region, but warm air is spreading across the remainder of the Midwest. Isolated showers are spreading across the upper Midwest. The U.S. corn harvest, 79% complete on October 14, is advancing at a record-setting pace, in spite of recent rainfall.

In the South, mild, dry weather favors fieldwork, including winter wheat planting and harvest activities for cotton, soybeans, and peanuts.

In the West, a warm weather pattern continues. However, slightly cooler air is overspreading the Northwest, accompanied by highly beneficial showers. Due to dry conditions, winter wheat emergence slightly lags the normal pace in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.