Weather

Recent rains benefit the central Corn Belt

On the Plains, hot, weather has returned to Montana, while mild, dry weather covers the remainder of the region. The central Plains, in particular, remain in desperate need of moisture for rangeland, pastures, and immature summer crops.

Across the Corn Belt, cool, dry weather prevails. Pastures and some soybeans continue to benefit from the recent turn toward cooler weather, as well as last week’s scattered showers—which were heaviest in the central Corn Belt.

In the South, widespread showers in the Atlantic Coast States are slowing fieldwork but maintaining generally favorable conditions for pastures and immature summer crops. Meanwhile in the Mid-South, including Arkansas, some rain fell last week but much more is needed to significantly ease drought.

In the West, several large wildfires remain active across the northern half of the region, especially in Idaho and northern California. The Rush fire has burned more than 270,000 acres near of Ravendale, California, while the Halstead, Trinity Ridge, Mustang, and Minidoka complexes have charred nearly 100,000 acres apiece in Idaho. Farther south, scattered showers dot the Four Corners States.