Eastern Cornbelt:
Temperatures in the mid-70s were reported across Illinois and Indiana during the week, with spotty rains reported over central and northern Illinois at midweek, and also across northern Indiana. A stronger cold front was expected to bring heavier rain to portions of northern Illinois and northern Indiana later in the week.
Similar conditions were reported in Ohio and Michigan, with highs reaching the 70s at midweek before cooler temperatures moved in on Oct. 6-7, along with an increased chance of rain and thunderstorms.
Harvesting was off to a good start on corn and soybeans in the region. “We are just now finally getting going on harvesting, mostly beans and a little corn getting started,” said one Ohio contact at midweek. “Yields have been good so far.”
“We have had phenomenal weather to start harvest off on the right foot,” added a Michigan source. “We are seeing corn yields down a bit from what was projected in our neighborhood, but still solid at $7/bushel. Our customer base has outperformed the neighborhood by 30+ bu so far. We are expecting a strong fertilizer run this fall.”
The corn harvest as of Oct. 2 was 16% complete in Indiana, 13% in Illinois, 10% in Michigan, and 7% in Ohio, while the soybean harvest had progressed to 17% complete in Indiana, 14% in Michigan, 13% in Ohio, and 10% in Illinois. Good or excellent ratings were assigned to 67-69% of the corn and soybeans in Illinois, 66-68% in Michigan, 64% in Ohio, and 57-58% in Indiana. Michigan growers also had 26% of the sugar beets in the bin by Oct. 2.
Western Cornbelt:
Highs in the mid- to upper-70s were reported across Iowa for the first half of the week, with temperatures reaching the low-80s in some western parts of the state, creating ideal harvest conditions. Scattered showers moved through the state at midweek, however, followed by cooler weather.
Similar conditions were reported in Nebraska, although a continued absence of rain caused extreme-to-exceptional drought areas to expand across southwestern and northeastern areas of the state. Drought conditions were also expanding across Missouri, with a wide area of severe-to-extreme drought covering west-central areas of the state in early October.
Corn harvesting had progressed to 34% complete in Missouri by Oct. 2, compared with 24% in Nebraska and 11% in Iowa. The soybean harvest was 26-29% complete in Iowa and Nebraska by that date, ahead of Missouri’s 9% progress. USDA placed 61% of Iowa’s corn and soybeans in the good or excellent categories, compared with 49-50% in Missouri and 35% in Nebraska.
Harvest was also progressing on cotton, rice, and sorghum in the region. Missouri’s rice was 56% harvested, along with 6% of the state’s cotton crop, with 56% of the cotton rated as good or excellent. With 11% of the sorghum crop harvested in Nebraska, fully 65% of the acreage was rated as poor or very poor in early October.
Northern Plains:
High temperatures across central and southern Minnesota dropped from the 70s to the 50s as the week progressed, with a band of severe-to-extreme drought impacting southern areas of the state.
The Dakotas saw even lower temperatures late in the week, with highs in parts of South Dakota dropping to the 40s on Oct. 6. A freeze warning was in effect for much of South Dakota on Oct. 6-7, with lows expected to fall to the upper-20s in many locations.
The corn harvest as of Oct. 2 was 15% complete in South Dakota, 5% in Minnesota, and 3% in North Dakota, while the soybean harvest was reported at 26-30% complete in the Northern Plains. Good or excellent ratings were assigned to 61-64% of Minnesota’s corn and soybeans, compared with 58-61% in North Dakota and 37-38% in South Dakota.
South Dakota growers had 2% of the sunflowers and 16% of the sorghum crop harvested by Oct. 2, with 40% of the sorghum rated as good or excellent. The sugar beet harvest was estimated at 13% complete in Minnesota and 18% in North Dakota by that date.
Northeast:
The last remnants of Hurricane Ian brought widespread rainfall to New England early in the week, with heavy precipitation still reported on Oct. 5 in some locations. Drier weather was on tap for the balance of the week, however, with high temperatures climbing from the 50s up to the 70s by Oct. 7.
Pennsylvania and Maryland also experienced rainfall through the middle of the week due to energy from Ian, with strong wind gusts also reported in some locations. The accumulated precipitation over multiple days was enough to prompt some flood advisories in Pennsylvania, including a “minor” flood stage warning for the Delaware River in Philadelphia.
The wet conditions slowed corn harvesting in the Northeast. “We’ve had some rain the last three days, which we really needed in July/August, so harvesting is at a standstill,” commented one Pennsylvania source. Just 2% of Pennsylvania’s corn crop was in the bin by Oct. 2, well behind the 15% average pace, with 67% of the crop rated as good or excellent.
Eastern Canada:
Less than two weeks after Tropical Storm Fiona hammered the Maritimes with heavy rain and powerful winds, parts of Eastern Canada were bracing for the first freezing temperatures of the fall, with snow possible for some areas of northern Ontario by the weekend.
Fiona caused widespread damage and power outages in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick on Sept. 24-25, prompting some local communities to issue states of emergency due to flooding, downed power lines, and road closures.
Warmer and drier weather returned to much of the region after Fiona, but a strong cold front was expected to push temperatures down to the single digits across Ontario and Quebec on Oct. 7-9, and also produce showers and gusty winds. Wet snow was possible in some higher elevations in northern Ontario.
“Harvest is in full swing,” said one regional contact at midweek. “Yields will be good on average – some areas very poor due to drought, and others are harvesting great crops.” Added another source: “Harvest is proceeding well, with beans about 60-80% off with yields ranging from 35-65 bu/acre. Corn is just starting. Wheat will be mostly planted by this weekend.”