Weather

Dry weather impacting crops & pastures across the Heartland

On the Plains, a few thunderstorms linger across southern areas. Meanwhile on the central Plains, mild, dry weather favors winter wheat harvesting, although pastures and rain-fed summer crops are in need of moisture. In Colorado, 55% of the rangeland and pastures were rated in very poor to poor condition on June 10.

Across the Corn Belt, dry, cooler weather prevails, following beneficial showers. Among the major Midwestern States, at least 10% of the corn and soybeans were rated in very poor to poor condition on June 10 in Missouri (18 and 27%, respectively), Indiana (15 and 16%), and Illinois (10 and 12%).

In the South, showers and thunderstorms linger in the vicinity of a cold front. Precipitation is especially beneficial in the Mid-South and lower Mississippi Valley, where—prior to the rain’s arrival—more than half (57%) of the pastures were rated very poor to poor condition in Arkansas.

In the West, mostly dry weather accompanies a warming trend. With respect to crop development, warmth is especially beneficial in California and the Northwest.