Agricultural News
Early Freeze Could Impact Portions of Cornbelt
Tue, 09 Sep 2014 17:05:02 CDT
Freezing temperatures and rainfall will impact the cornbelt this weekend. Last week there were projections that the coldest air would reach into central Iowa ending the growing season. DTN Senior Ag Meteorologist Bryce Anderson said that outlook for the upcoming weekend has moderated substantially
"It does look like we're going to see some of that chill in the northern say quarter of the cornbelt, but not really getting into the higher production areas of the three I states there along Interstate 80 and because of that there's been more confidence that there's not going to be quick and painful end to what has been a long and drawn out crop season considering how cool its been," Anderson said.
In a interview with Leslie Smith of the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network, Anderson said he is forecasting temperatures will fall down into the light freeze category will get into the northern portion of the cornbelt into the Canadian prairie. You can listen to the full interview by clicking on the LISTEN BAR below.
For much of the central US, Anderson is predicting a more of a normal first freeze date, but this approaching cold front will impact some crops that have not reached full maturity.
"I think we can see some impact on about 10 percent of the total corn acreage in parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, the eastern Dakotas," Anderson said. "The actual killing out of crops would be very scattered with only a 32 degree temperature. We would have to see those temperatures get into the 27 and 28 degree bracket Fahrenheit for a hard killing freeze to be in effect and because of that I don't there is going to be a real big crop loss, even through its certainly is colder."
Rain will fall across much of the midwest that is going to range from a half inch of rain to one and half inches. The heaviest rainfall could total up to three inches of precipitation across eastern Iowa toward Chicago. Anderson said this rain will provide some protection to the midwest corn and soybean crops. The Southern Plains is also forecasted to receive a half to one and half inches of precipitation.
"Some of that is the result of the former Hurricane Norbert system out of the eastern Pacific that brought that terrific flooding into the Phoenix area earlier this week," Anderson said. "We are getting the moisture trail from that and it's all helping to recharge the soil moisture, I know its making things kind of tough to get things going for early wheat planting, but I think at this point we'll take the moisture."
This looks to be the start of a wetter and colder trend for the fall. Anderson said this shows that this will be the start of a drawn out of harvest season. Coming up this week we will have more with Bryce Anderson in providing his weather outlook for harvest.
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