Eastern Cornbelt:
Temperatures in the low- to mid-70s were common across Illinois and Indiana during the week, but gusty winds and an increased chance of rain were likely by the weekend.
Ohio and Michigan experienced similar conditions, with dry weather and highs reaching the upper-60s and low-70s for most of the week. Cold weather was on tap for the weekend, however, along with spotty showers.
The fall harvest continued to progress rapidly. Illinois growers had 78% of the corn harvested by the end of October, compared with 71% in Indiana, 56% in Ohio, and 43% in Michigan. The soybean harvest was 89% complete in Illinois, 87% in Indiana and Ohio, and 77% in Michigan.
Fully 93-94% of the winter wheat crop was planted in Ohio and Michigan by the end of October, compared with 80-81% in Indiana and Illinois.
Low water levels on the river system continued to delay barge shipments in early November. “I’m going on the seventh week of waiting on barges, which is three weeks longer than normal,” commented one regional contact.
Western Cornbelt:
Temperatures in the 70s were common across Iowa during the week, but a cold front was expected to drop highs to the 40s on Nov. 4 and bring steady rains to much of the state, followed by a chance of snow in western Iowa on Nov. 5. Rain was also in the forecast for Missouri late in the week.
Similar conditions were reported in Nebraska, with a winter weather advisory posted for western areas of the state late on Nov. 3 and into Nov. 4. Forecasts warned of up to two inches of snow in some locations late in the week.
The corn harvest as of Oct. 30 was reported at 83% complete in Missouri, 80% in Nebraska, and 77% in Iowa, while the soybean harvest had progressed to 97% complete in Nebraska, 94% in Iowa, and 73% in Missouri. Missouri’s cotton crop was 68% harvested by that date, along with 75% of Nebraska’s sorghum harvest.
“Yield reports are all over the board, from zeroed out to good surprises,” commented one source. “It all just depended on where the clouds were.”
Southern Plains:
Much of the Southern Plains was bracing for severe weather late in the week, including the potential for damaging winds, large hail, and heavy rain. Cities at risk included Wichita, Kan., Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Okla., and Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and Houston in Texas. Forecasts warned of 1-3 inches of rain possible in many locations through Nov. 5.
Temperatures plummeted in Colorado during the week, falling 50 degrees in Denver from Nov. 1 to Nov. 4. An early winter storm also brought snowfall to parts of Colorado at midweek, and parts of New Mexico were hit with rain, snow, and strong winds on Nov. 3.
The corn harvest as of Oct. 30 was 90-97% complete in Kansas and Texas, compared with 45% in Colorado. Kansas growers also had 79% of the soybeans picked by that date, while the cotton harvest had progressed to 50% complete in Kansas, 48% in Texas, and 29% in Oklahoma.
Growers were also working on the sorghum harvest, which was rated at 64-68% complete in Oklahoma, Colorado, and Kansas, compared with 100% in Texas. The sunflower harvest was 40% complete in Colorado and 65% in Kansas by the end of October.
The expected rainfall was reportedly sparking some interest in fall fertilizer, even after what one source described as crop yields that were “very sub-average” because of drought conditions. “Interest in P and K has picked up, not setting records, but better than it has been for several months,” reported one regional contact.
South Central:
Recent rainfall has improved drought conditions across Arkansas, but the state was bracing for potentially severe weather by the end of the week, with forecasts warning of damaging winds, hail, and possible tornado activity on Nov. 4.
Louisiana was also at a slight risk for severe weather on Nov. 4, and the cold front was expected to push eastward across the Mississippi Valley on Nov. 5.
A dry fall has allowed the harvest to move rapidly in the South Central region, with progress tracking ahead of the five-year average for all crops in all states. The corn harvest as of Oct. 30 was 91-97% complete in Kentucky and Tennessee, while the soybean harvest had progressed to 71-73% in Kentucky and Tennessee, 88% in Arkansas, and 93-98% in Mississippi and Louisiana.
The cotton harvest was 65% complete in Tennessee by Oct. 30, compared with 84% in Mississippi, 87% in Arkansas, and 95% in Louisiana. The rice harvest was fully 97-100% complete in the region.
Southeast:
Warm, dry weather was reported across much of the Southeast in early November, although wet conditions were expected by the coming weekend.
With highs reaching the mid- to upper-70s in many areas, sources reported rapid progress on the fall harvest. North Carolina growers had 96% of the corn and 45% of the soybeans harvested by Oct. 30, with the cotton harvest reported at 47% complete in Georgia, 51% in South Carolina, 59% in Alabama, 60% in North Carolina, and 68% in Virginia.
The peanut harvest had progressed to 66% complete in South Carolina, 79% in North Carolina, 80% in Alabama, 83% in Georgia, 92% in Florida, and 95% in Virginia. The harvest of peanuts and cotton was tracking ahead of the average pace in all Southeast states in late October.
Sources reported some application taking place on wheat, hay, and pastures in early November, but the pace was slow. “Farmers are beginning to ask about spring prices,” added one contact.