Eastern Cornbelt:
Clear skies with highs in the 50s and 60s were reported in southern and central Illinois at midweek after some rain delays earlier in the week. “We will be wide open again tomorrow,” said one Illinois contact on April 14.
Highs across central Indiana were also reported in the low-60s at midweek, but cool temperatures and an increased chance of rain were on tap for the coming weekend. Wet weather was also reported in northern Ohio as the week advanced, along with temperatures that struggled to hit the 50-degree mark.
Corn planting was off to a good start in the region, with progress as of April 11 estimated at 5 percent complete in Illinois and 2 percent in Ohio and Indiana. Ohio growers also had fully 40 percent of the oat crop seeded by that date, well ahead of the 13 percent five-year average.
Western Cornbelt:
Cool, wet weather limited fieldwork in much of the Western Cornbelt at mid-month. One Iowa contact said 2-5 inches of rain over the previous weekend put a stop to fertilizer applications during the week. Although sunshine had returned by midweek, 50-degree temperatures slowed the drying process, he said.
Nebraska was bracing for some nasty weather as the week progressed. A powerful system was expected to bring 6-12 inches of snow to the Nebraska Panhandle and southeastern Wyoming on April 16, with eastern areas of Nebraska anticipating steady rain late in the week.
Wet weather was also in store for much of central and western Missouri over the coming weekend, but precipitation totals were expected to remain under an inch in most locations.
Corn planting as of April 11 was 8 percent complete in Missouri and 1 percent in Iowa, with Missouri’s rice crop 8 percent planted by that date. USDA said 37-40 percent of the oat crop in Iowa and Nebraska was already seeded by April 11, with both states tracking ahead of their five-year averages.
Northern Plains:
Parts of the Northern Plains picked up some needed precipitation during the week, with reports of spotty rains and 1-3 inches of snow in northeastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota on April 13. The region also experienced cold temperatures at mid-month, with lows in North Dakota dropping to the mid-20s and highs barley hitting the low-50s.
Worsening drought conditions were reported in the Dakotas, with severe-to-extreme drought covering nearly all of North Dakota and a large section of northwestern South Dakota as of April 8. The dry conditions allowed an early start to spring fieldwork, but some growers were forced to stop and wait for additional moisture at mid-month.
“We are very dry,” said one North Dakota source. “Some have started up, but most are stopped and waiting for rain/snow. We are getting some now, not a lot but better than nothing. Some will now give it a try toward the end of the week or maybe next week.”
“There is some movement, but we’re not in full swing yet due to dry conditions,” added another regional contact.
USDA reported that North Dakota growers had two percent of the corn planted by April 11, while the planting of sugar beets had progressed to 5 percent in North Dakota and 1 percent in Minnesota.
Fully 19-20 percent of the oat crop was planted in Minnesota and South Dakota by April 11, compared with 2 percent in North Dakota. Barley planting was estimated at 3 percent complete in Minnesota and North Dakota, with spring wheat planting reported at 7-8 percent in Minnesota and North Dakota and fully 30 percent in South Dakota. Small grains planting was ahead of the average pace for all crops in the region.
Great Lakes:
Cold, wet weather was reported across most of Michigan at midweek. After dry weather earlier in April and a rapid start to spring planting and fieldwork, much of the state was hit with a soaking rain on April 10, followed by another system on April 14-15 that left 2-5 inches of snow in the Upper Peninsula and 1-3 inches of accumulation in northern areas of the Lower Peninsula.
Chilly weather was also reported in Wisconsin, with highs down in the 40s at midweek and plenty of rain in northern areas of the state. Highs were expected to reach the 50s again across much of Wisconsin by the weekend.
Michigan growers had 1 percent of the corn and fully 46 percent of the sugar beet crop planted by April 11, with sugar beets tracking significantly ahead of the 3 percent five-year average. Oat planting in Wisconsin was estimated at 19 percent complete by that date, also well ahead of the 5 percent five-year average.
“Spring is progressing here way ahead of normal. The dry winter and early loss of snow has caused soils to warm up fast,” said one Michigan contact. “Many have all the fertilizer spread and are switching to planting. We are seeing product outages everywhere on anything people want to apply.”
Northeast:
Temperatures across New England climbed into the 60s early in the week, but a strong weather system was expected to bring up to an inch of rain on April 16, along with cooler temperatures in the 40s and 50s. Forecasts warned that higher elevations in New England could pick up as much as 12 inches of snow by the weekend.
Temperatures across New York and central Pennsylvania were also reported in the 50s at midweek, with scattered rain and strong winds in many locations.
In Maryland, thunderstorms swept through the Baltimore region on April 11, prompting a severe thunderstorm warning after a weekend of sunshine and warm temperatures. Wind gusts up to 60 mph were reported near Mount Airy, along with scattered hail and heavy rain.
Sources reported little in the way of spring planting in the Northeast in mid-April, with only spotty field preparation due to wet conditions.