Eastern Cornbelt:
Unseasonably hot weather blanketed much of the Eastern Cornbelt during the week, sparking a flurry of spring planting across the region.
Temperatures climbed into the 90s across Illinois as the week progressed, with high humidity driving heat index readings into the triple digits. Record heat was also reported in Indiana, with South Bend posting a daily record high of 88 degrees on May 11 and Indianapolis tying its May 11 record at 89 degrees.
Highs in the 80s were also reported across Ohio as the week progressed. Slightly cooler weather was on tap for the weekend, however, with highs in the upper-70s and an increased chance of showers and thunderstorms across the region.
Sources reported a surge in spring planting during the week as growers tried to make up for time lost to earlier weather delays. Corn planting as of May 8 was reported at 15% complete in Illinois, 11% in Indiana, and just 5% in Ohio, well behind the five-year averages of 58%, 39%, and 27% , respectively.
Soybean planting was also lagging at 11% complete in Illinois, 7% in Indiana, and 4% in Ohio, compared with five-year averages of 30%, 24%, and 14%, respectively. Ohio’s oat crop was 53% planted by May 8, trailing the 73% five-year average.
Western Cornbelt:
Multiple daily heat records were set across the Western Cornbelt during the week. Highs in Iowa on May 12 reached the upper-80s and low-90s. A severe weather threat was posted for eastern and central Nebraska on May 12 as temperatures soared to the mid- to upper-90s in numerous locations, with a record high of 97 degrees notched in Omaha.
Missouri also experienced summer temperatures during the week, with highs commonly reaching the upper-80s and low- 90s on May 11-12. Forecasts warned of potentially severe storms across the state on May 13, however, along with cooler temperatures.
Planting progress was ramping up quickly in the Western Cornbelt after weeks of weather delays. Corn planting in Iowa as of May 8 was just 14% complete, well behind the 63% five-year average, while progress in Nebraska and Missouri was reported at 32-39% complete, compared with 57-67% on average.
Soybean planting was also lagging at 7% complete in Iowa and Nebraska and 28% in Nebraska by May 8, while cotton planting in Missouri had progressed to 20% by that date, just slightly behind the 21% average. Rice planting in Missouri was just 31% complete by May 8, however, significantly behind the 61% five-year average.
Northern Plains:
Unseasonably warm weather sparked a series of strong thunderstorms in the Northern Plains during the week, which brought heavy rain, damaging winds, and large hail to some locations. Cooler weather was on tap later in the week, however, with highs expected to peak in the 70s.
Near-record highs in the upper-80s fueled severe weather across parts of the Dakotas and Minnesota on May 11-12. Storms dumped more than 3 inches of rain near Waseca, Minn., and hail 1 inch in diameter or greater was reported in Oronco, Plainview, Kasson, Pine Island, St. Michael, and Cottonwood, Minn., on May 11.
More than 80,000 Xcel Energy customers were without power in Minneapolis, Minn., on May 11 after a complex of thunderstorms brought heavy rain and 60 mph winds. Parts of western North Dakota were also hit by strong thunderstorms at midweek, raising concerns about worsening river and overland flooding in the Red River Valley.
“We’ve been on a rollercoaster here due to widespread rains every day or two,” commented one regional source. Another contact described the May rains as a potential “drought breaker,” noting that parts of central North Dakota collected 1-3 inches of rain during the week. “It’s getting later every day, and we will need some long days to get the crop in,” he added.
Corn planting as of May 8 was rated at 11% complete in South Dakota, 9% in Minnesota, and 1% in North Dakota, well behind the five-year averages of 32%, 48%, and 18%, respectively. Soybean planting also lagged considerably at just 2-5% complete in Minnesota and South Dakota, compared with an average of 12-25%. North Dakota growers had yet to register any progress on soybean planting as of May 8.
Small grains planting was also delayed in the region. Spring wheat and barley planting was 6-8% complete in North Dakota by May 8, compared with a five-year average of 33-37%, while progress in Minnesota was estimated at just 2-5% complete, well behind the 43-50% average pace. Oat planting was 63% complete in South Dakota, 23% in Minnesota, and 11% in North Dakota, compared with the five-year averages of 69%, 58%, and 32%, respectively.
The most significant planting delays were reported for sugar beets, however. Progress as of May 8 was just 2-8% complete in North Dakota and Minnesota, dramatically behind the 62-63% five-year average.
Great Lakes:
Highs across Michigan climbed well into the 70s during the week, providing a needed respite from recent cold, wet weather and sparking a flurry of fieldwork. Temperatures even reached the 80s in some parts of southern Michigan during the week.
Similar conditions were reported in Wisconsin, with unseasonably warm weather sparking a number of severe thunderstorms across the state on May 10. Highs in the 80s were confirmed at numerous Wisconsin locations during the week.
Growers were working swiftly to plant crops after weeks of weather-related delays. Corn planting as of May 8 was estimated at just 4-7% complete in Michigan and Wisconsin, well behind the five-year average of 22-29%. Soybean planting also lagged at 6-8% complete by that date, compared with 15-17% on average.
Michigan growers had just 36% of the sugar beets planted by May 8, well behind the 71% five-year average. The Wisconsin oat crop was 30% planted by that date, compared with 54% on average.
Northeast:
Gusty winds, low humidity, and steadily rising temperatures were reported across New England during the week. Although overnight lows continued to dip into the 30s and 40s, highs in the 70s and low 80s were in the forecast for May 12-13.
The same weather pattern was reported in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New York, with highs climbing into the 70s as the week progressed. The warmup followed a period of heavy rainfall over the Mother’s Day weekend, with parts of Pennsylvania collecting four inches of precipitation.
The pleasant weather sparked a flurry of spring fieldwork across the region. One New York contact said fertilizer application and spring planting was running in “full gear now.” Pennsylvania growers had 13% of the corn crop planted by May 8, behind the five-year average of 20%.
“Currently there is a lot of rye and triticale laying in the fields and with the nice weather this week, I expect most of that will be put in the silo this week,” reported a Pennsylvania source. “Fertilizer for corn and tobacco is being delivered in moderate levels, with growers scheduling fertilizer heavier for the end of this week.”
Eastern Canada:
Corn planting and spring fieldwork was rapidly picking up the pace across Ontario during the week, thanks to favorable temperatures and soil conditions after weeks of cold, wet weather.
“We are not in the thick of it yet,” commented one contact. “I would say most of the wheat ground is done and they are starting on corn.”
One Ontario contact said he expected corn planting in his trade area to be 50% complete by the coming weekend, while another said growers were “still picking and choosing fields” with plans to be “full out” by the weekend.
Flood warnings were in effect for much of the Rainy River watershed along the Minnesota-Ontario border as a combination of melting snow and heavy rains pushed lakes and rivers to flood stages. According to the Duluth News Tribune, the high water impacts areas from Lake Vermilion all the way to Lake of the Woods, with near-record high water levels already reported on Namakan Lake.
By contrast, conditions were described as very dry across southern Quebec, prompting outdoor burning bans and warnings of fire danger. Temperatures in Montreal on May 11 climbed to the upper 70s, with forecasts suggesting highs could reach the mid-80s for May 12-14. Temperatures in the mid- to upper-70s were also reported in the Maritimes during the week.