For the first time in what seems like forever, the Northern and High Plains saw a wetter-than-normal week while much of the rest of the Corn Belt was drier than normal in the week ending August 21. The bulk of the precipitation arrived in the latter part of the week while the front half of the week was marked by very hot conditions, especially from the Dakotas to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. However, as the rain arrived later in the week, temperatures took a significant drop into cooler-than-normal territory. Despite the arrival of wetter conditions, long-term drought is likely to remain across this region since it will take a prolonged period of substantial rain to make a dent in the drought.
This was the fourth hottest and fifth driest third week of August in more than 30 years for the Corn Belt as a whole, according to data from WeatherTrends360. While a large chunk of the central Corn Belt was drier than normal, the Northern and High Plains saw wetter-than-normal conditions. In fact, for North Dakota this was the second hottest and third wettest third week of August in 30-plus years. Unfortunately, Minnesota largely missed out on the wetter conditions with the fifth driest third week of August in over 30 years.
Looking ahead into the final week of August, fortunately, another wetter-than-normal week is on tap for the Northern Plains with wetter weather possibly leaking over into Minnesota and Iowa where drought has been expanding lately. WeatherTrends360 predicts the week ending August 28 will be the third to fourth wettest fourth week of August in over three decades for the Dakotas and Minnesota. Cooler-than-normal temperatures will prevail in this region through much of the week, which should help to slow down evapotranspiration rates.
Drier and warmer than normal weather is more likely across the southern Corn Belt in the fourth week of August. Luckily, this area hasn’t seen too many issues with drought so the turn to drier weather isn’t much of a concern. In Kansas and Missouri this will be the fifth hottest week of August in 30-plus years.
EDITOR’S TAKE:
Your CAD team pointed to weather as a primary factor in determining what would happen to commodity prices and farm income in 2021. Well, the impacts are now much clearer. Prices for most commodities are up as weather has reduced cattle herd capacity in the Norther Plains and impacted yields for crops in those areas as well. It is great to see more rain beginning to find its way back, but as the article points out, quite a bit of moisture will be needed to recharge the soils and bring things back to normal. In the meantime, farmers and ranchers in those areas are likely to pull back their purchasing plans for a time. However, be prepared for when weather and crop conditions get back to normal. They will undoubtedly want new trucks and will certainly appreciate AgPack to help them save on operating costs. Think past August and begin reaching out to those farmers and ranchers who will be some of your best customer prospects in the next few months!
