Eastern Cornbelt:
Scattered showers were reported in all three states at midweek, but dry weather was on tap for the weekend, along with highs in the 70s and 80s.
The harvest of corn and soybeans was off to a slow start in the region, with progress trailing the five-year average. Illinois growers had 6-10% of the corn and soybeans harvested by Sept. 24, compared with 7% in Indiana, 2-3% in Ohio, and 1-2% in Michigan.
Ohio continued to report the best crop conditions, with 68-72% of the corn and beans rated as good or excellent, compared with 63% in Indiana, 60-61% in Illinois, and 49-56% in Michigan.
Western Cornbelt:
The Western Cornbelt was bracing for a heat wave over the coming weekend, with highs expected to reach the upper-80s and low-90s across eastern Nebraska, western Iowa, and northern Missouri. Forecasts warned of record highs for some locations, with the heat expected to roll over into Monday, Oct. 2.
While not helpful for the region’s ongoing drought, the hot, dry conditions made for great harvest weather. Missouri’s corn harvest was 28% complete by Sept. 24, compared with 15% in Nebraska and 9% in Iowa, while the soybean harvest had progressed to 11-14% complete in Iowa and Nebraska and 4% in Missouri. Some 45-50% of the corn and beans in Iowa and Nebraska were rated as good or excellent, ahead of Missouri’s 33-44%.
Nebraska growers also had 6% of the sorghum harvested by Sept. 24, with 63% of the acreage rated as good or excellent. Missouri’s rice crop was 27% harvested by that date, while the Missouri cotton harvest was just 2% complete, with 64% of the crop rated as good or excellent.
California:
The week began with a Pacific system that brought heavy rain to coastal areas of Northern California, with more than two inches reported in Crescent City and Eureka but just a trace of precipitation farther south in Sacramento and San Francisco. Southern California was missed entirely by the storm.
Crops continued to benefit from this year’s plentiful moisture. Fully 95% of California’s cotton was rated as good or excellent on Sept. 24, compared with 71% in Arizona. The cotton harvest had yet to start in California, but 10% of the state’s rice crop was in the bin by that date.
Pacific Northwest:
A powerful Pacific weather system dropped heavy rain across Portland and parts of Washington during the week, with rainfall totals expected to top three inches in some coastal locations and up to two inches inland.
Highs in the 60s and low-70s were common across Idaho and Montana during the week, but cooler temperatures and an increased chance of rainfall were on tap for the coming weekend.
Idaho’s sugar beet harvest was 6% complete by Sept. 24, while the harvest of spring wheat and barley had progressed to 93-94% complete in Idaho, 95% in Montana, and 99% in Washington. The region’s potato harvest was underway, with progress estimated at 24% complete in Idaho, 51% in Washington, and 52% in Oregon.
Western Canada:
Harvest was progressing rapidly in Western Canada in late September, with Manitoba’s overall progress estimated at 76% complete by Sept. 27, ahead of the 64% five-year average. Manitoba’s spring cereal crops were 97-98% harvested, while the canola harvest was 78% complete in the province.
Alberta’s harvest was 65% complete as of Sept. 19. Saskatchewan’s harvest was 82% complete as of Sept. 21, well ahead of the 64% five-year average, with 65% of the canola crop in the bin, along with 79% of the oats, 94% of the durum, 87% of the chickpeas, 88-94% of the spring wheat and barley, 47% of the soybeans, and 39% of the flax.