Eastern Cornbelt:
Rainfall across central Illinois at midweek put a halt to what was described as a fairly brisk start to the fall ammonia application season.
After highs reached the mid-70s across much of the Eastern Cornbelt at midweek, much colder weather was on tap for the weekend, with highs expected only in the low- to-mid-50s in northern Ohio. Rain was also in the weekend forecast for Ohio and southern Michigan, with snow possible in northeastern Michigan by Halloween.
The corn harvest as of Oct. 22 was 70% complete in Illinois, well ahead of Indiana’s 42%, Ohio’s 20%, and Michigan’s 24% progress. The soybean harvest was 80% complete in Illinois, 64-65% in Ohio and Indiana, and 43% in Michigan, while Michigan growers also had 22% of the sugar beets picked by that date.
Western Cornbelt:
Warm temperatures blanketed much of the Western Cornbelt during the last full week of October, but colder weather was in the weekend forecast.
Highs in Iowa were expected to drop to the 40s and 50s on Oct. 27-28 after reaching the upper-60s and low-70s during the week. The weekend also promised a mix of rain, freezing rain, and snow in Iowa, with mostly rain in southern areas and light snow accumulation in northwestern Iowa on Oct. 28. Highs in the 40s were expected on Oct. 29.
Nebraska was also preparing for a wintry mix of precipitation over the weekend, with northwestern areas of the state expecting 1-4 inches of snow and temperatures in the 30s.
The fall harvest continued at a brisk pace in late October, with progress tracking ahead of the five-year average for all crops in the region. Missouri growers had 75% of the corn in the bin by Oct. 22, compared with 62% in Iowa and Nebraska. Iowa’s soybean harvest was 87% complete, ahead of Nebraska’s 83% and Missouri’s 61%.
Missouri’s rice harvest was fully 93% complete, along with 67% of the state’s cotton crop. Nebraska growers also had 54% of the sorghum crop in the bin by Oct. 22.
Northern Plains:
The first winter storm warnings and advisories were issued for parts of the Northern Plains on Oct. 26-27 as a strong storm moved into the region from the Pacific Northwest.
Forecasts warned of as much as 8-12 inches of snow possible in southwestern and northeastern North Dakota, while Fargo was expected to get just two inches. Accumulation in western South Dakota was predicted at 1-3 inches, and the northwestern corner of Minnesota was also bracing for up to 3-5 inches of snow, along with 35 mph winds.
The harvest of corn, soybeans, sugar beets, and sorghum continued in the Northern Plains, with progress tracking ahead of the average pace thanks to favorable weather in mid-October. The corn harvest was 62% complete in Minnesota and 45-48% in the Dakotas as of Oct. 22, with the soybean harvest estimated at 85-90% complete in the region.
South Dakota’s sorghum crop was 65% harvested by Oct. 22, while the sugar beet harvest had progressed to 87% complete in North Dakota and 92% in Minnesota. Harvest was lagging slightly on sunflowers, however, with 23-24% of the Dakota crop in the bin by Oct. 22.
Northeast:
While parts of the Pacific Northwest and upper Midwest were bracing for the first significant snowfall of the season, much of the Northeast enjoyed summer-like heat and near-record temperatures in late October.
Highs in the upper-70s were reported in eastern Massachusetts during the week, while temperatures in Philadelphia were expected to reach the low-80s on Oct. 27-28. A weather change was in store for Halloween, however, with rainfall and a nearly 30-degree temperature drop expected in New England.
Just 26% of Pennsylvania’s corn crop was in the bin by Oct. 22, some 10 points behind the five-year average, while the state’s soybean harvest had progressed to 36% complete. About half of the state’s fall tillage was also complete by that date.
Eastern Canada:
Favorable October weather allowed growers to move quickly on the fall harvest across Eastern Canada, but parts of Ontario were bracing for the first significant snowfall of the season.
While mild temperatures continued over much of southern Ontario, northwestern areas of the province were expecting 10-20 cm of snow on Oct. 26-27.
Unseasonably warm weather also continued across much of Quebec and the Maritimes during the week, with high reaching the teens and low-20s. Increased showers were likely over the weekend in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, however.