Weather

Harvest delays continue in the far eastern Corn Belt

On the Plains, winter wheat continues to struggle to emerge in several drought-affected states, including South Dakota (13% emerged on October 21 versus the 5-year average of 80%), Montana (36 vs. 67%), and Nebraska (58 vs. 87%).

Across the Corn Belt, due to rain-related planting delays, less than one-quarter (22%) of Ohio’s winter wheat had emerged by October 21, compared to the 5-year average of 40%.

In the South, dry weather favors and return to fieldwork, including winter wheat planting and cotton, peanut, and soybean harvesting.

In the West, warm, dry weather is promoting fieldwork from southern California into the Southwest. In contrast, unsettled weather in the Northwest continues to benefit rangeland, pastures, and winter wheat.