Eastern Cornbelt:
Cool, wet weather was reported across much of the Eastern Cornbelt during the week. Frost advisories and freeze warnings were in effect for parts of central and northern Indiana at midweek, and also for northeastern Ohio, with lows dipping to the mid-20s in both states.
A stronger chance of precipitation was expected on April 29-30, with heavy rain expected across central Illinois and southern Indiana. Forecasts also warned of the potential for severe weather in southern Illinois and southwestern Indiana, including the possibility of heavy rain, large hail, and damaging winds.
Corn planting progress continued to lag in the region, with just 1-2 percent of the acreage planted in Illinois and Indiana as of April 24, well behind the 10-21 percent average. Soybean planting was rated at 1 percent complete in Illinois and had yet to start in Indiana and Ohio, with all three states trailing their five-year averages. Ohio growers had 30 percent of the oat crop planted by April 24, behind the 44 percent five-year average.
Western Cornbelt:
Scattered showers and cool temperatures continued to dominate Iowa’s weather in late April, limiting fertilizer application and planting activities.
The wettest weather was expected late in the week, with potentially strong storms moving through western Iowa, Nebraska, and western Missouri. Forecasts warned of heavy rain, large hail, and damaging winds in portions of all three states on April 30, with a half-inch or more of precipitation likely in many locations.
The weather delays pushed planting further behind in late April. Just 2 percent of Iowa’s corn crop was seeded by April 24, compared with 15 percent on average. Corn planting progress in Missouri and Nebraska was rated at 10 percent complete, behind the five-year averages of 29 percent and 11 percent, respectively.
Soybean planting was just 1-3 percent complete in the Western Cornbelt by April 24, while Missouri growers had yet to register any progress on cotton planting by that date. Rice growers in Missouri were able to plant just 1 percent of the crop by April 24, well behind the 38 percent five-year average.
Southern Plains:
Severe-to-exceptional drought continued to grip most of the Southern Plains in late April, with a broad area of the most significant drought conditions observed across western Oklahoma, northern and western Texas, and eastern New Mexico.
More than 173,000 acres in New Mexico have burned in wildfires so far this year, more than in seven of the last eight years, and the state’s peak fire season runs from April through July. The fires have been fed by tinder dry conditions, high winds, and spring heat. Highs reached the upper-70s across northern New Mexico and eastern Colorado during the week.
Parts of central and eastern Texas received long-overdue rains in late April, with some areas reportedly collecting 1-4 inches. Another active weather pattern was taking aim at the region late in the week, with severe thunderstorms expected across northern Texas, Oklahoma, and central and eastern Kansas on April 28-29. Large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes were all possible in this area.
“We’re keeping our fingers crossed for some rain chances coming later this week,” said one Kansas contact. “All you have to do is look at the drought map to see what growers are contending with across the high plains. Planting is occurring for some, but not for others.”
Corn planting as of April 24 had progressed to 69 percent complete in Texas, 21 percent in Kansas, and just 4 percent in Colorado, with soybeans estimated at 3 percent planted in Kansas. The cotton crop was 19 percent planted in Texas and 1 percent in Kansas, while sorghum planting had progressed to 63 percent complete in Texas and 1 percent in Kansas.
One central Texas source estimated that all of the corn and 75 percent of the cotton was planted in his trade area. Several Texas sources said spring fertilizer rates would see a 30-40 percent reduction overall this year due to high input costs, the drought, and low beef prices, with significant demand destruction reported on pastureland.
The region’s winter wheat crop was “going backwards,” according to one source, who reported significant drought damage in late April. USDA’s wheat ratings bore this out, with poor or very poor ratings assigned to fully 78 percent of the Texas crop as of April 24, along with 48 percent of the acreage in Oklahoma, 47 percent in Colorado, and 36 percent in Kansas.
South Central:
Most of Louisiana experienced showers and thunderstorms early in the week, with the strongest storms confined to western, central, and northern areas of the state.
Another system was expected to move into the region on April 30, with forecasts warning of the potential for severe storms – including damaging winds, large hail, and some tornado activity – in northeastern Arkansas, northwestern Tennessee, and western Kentucky.
On April 28, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) announced that Gov. Tate Reeves has requested a Major Disaster Declaration from President Joe Biden for Individual Assistance due to tornadoes and severe weather that occurred on March 22, when 27 tornadoes caused major damage in the state.
Soybean planting as of April 24 was reported at 39 percent complete in Louisiana, 24 percent in Mississippi, 12 percent in Arkansas, 5 percent in Kentucky, and 3 percent in Tennessee. Cotton planting had progressed to 14 percent in Louisiana and 2 percent in Arkansas and Mississippi, with corn planting reported at 17 percent complete in Tennessee and 10 percent in Kentucky.
Louisiana growers had fully 80 percent of the rice crop planted by April 24, compared with 77 percent in Texas, 25 percent in Mississippi, and 14 percent in Arkansas.
Southeast:
A line of thunderstorms rolled across Georgia and North Carolina on April 26, producing strong winds and heavy rain in some locations. Rain showers also hit parts of Virginia and Maryland on that date, with reports of lightning, strong winds, and hail in northern Virginia.
Cooler temperatures moved in after the thunderstorms, with temperatures in the 50s and 40 mph winds reported in parts of Virginia on April 27-28. Much warmer weather was on tap for the coming weekend, however.
A gradual warmup also occurred in Alabama during the week, with spotty rains expected by the weekend. Highs across central Florida climbed to the mid- to upper-80s during the week.
North Carolina growers had 60 percent of the corn and 6 percent of the soybeans planted by April 24, with both crops tracking slightly ahead of the average pace. Cotton planting was 12 percent complete in Virginia and 1-3 percent in the rest of the Southeast by that date, while peanut planting had progressed to 14 percent complete in Florida, 3 percent in Alabama and Georgia, and 1 percent in the Carolinas.
Sources reported steady fertilizer application taking place in the region, with planting running “wide open.” Several contacts continued to talk of fertilizer demand destruction due to high input costs, however. One source said overall rates were down roughly 33 percent from normal in his area, with nitrogen down 20 percent, phosphates 45 percent, and potash 35 percent.
One source said many growers in his territory opted for prescription rates based on soil samples rather than using traditional rates, with the biggest hit seen on phosphates and potash. “In our lawn care business, we’re seeing lots of requests for 16-2-4 blends rather than the usual 20-10-10,” he said.