Eastern Cornbelt:
Wet weather continued to limit sidedress applications in the Eastern Cornbelt. Highs across central and southern Illinois topped out in the upper-70s and low-80s as the week progressed, but another round of showers was in the forecast for June 10. Drier weather was on tap for the coming weekend, however.
Strong storms pushed through parts of Indiana at midweek, with reports of golf ball-sized hail, damaging winds, and at least one possible tornado in central Indiana on June 8. The same system then churned through western, southern, and central Ohio late on June 8, leaving thousands without power from high winds and at least one confirmed tornado.
“We have been very busy putting the finishing touches on planting and getting a strong start on the sidedress season as we speak,” said one Ohio source. “We got some rain last night that will keep us out until tomorrow on sidedressing, and they are calling again for more rain later in the week in my area.”
Corn planting as of June 5 had progressed to 95% complete in Illinois, 92% in Indiana, and 85% in Ohio, with all three states tracking ahead of their five-year averages. Soybean planting was also advancing quickly, with 84-88% of the crop planted in Indiana and Illinois and 71% in Ohio.
Western Cornbelt:
A band of strong thunderstorms moved through western and central Iowa on June 7, while rain was reported across eastern Iowa at midweek. Much warmer temperatures were on tap for the weekend, with highs in Iowa expected to climb into the 80s before surging into the 90s during the following week.
Parts of eastern Nebraska were hit with heavy rain early in the week, and a second band of thunderstorms hammered the state with hail and torrential rain at midweek. Strong thunderstorms also moved through parts of Missouri at midweek, spawning at least four tornadoes in the Kansas City area on June 8.
Corn planting in the region progressed to 95-98% complete by June 5, with soybean planting estimated at 94-95% complete in Iowa and Nebraska and 61% in Missouri. Missouri growers also had 96% of the cotton planted by that date, ahead of the average pace, with sorghum planting in Nebraska also tracking ahead of normal at 77% complete.
Southern Plains:
High heat sparked strong thunderstorms in parts of the Southern Plains during the week, and also worsened drought conditions across a vast swath of Texas, New Mexico, and western Oklahoma.
Strong storms spawned at least four tornadoes on June 8 in eastern Kansas, while an earlier system produced 60-80 mph winds and golf ball-sized hail in parts of northern Oklahoma. Highs in the mid-90s were expected in much of Oklahoma as the week progressed, with triple-digit highs common across central and western Texas during the week.
Corn growers had 93-97% of the regional crop planted by June 5, while cotton planting had progressed to 53% complete in Oklahoma, 82% in Texas, and 92% in Kansas. Kansas growers also had 64% of the soybeans planted by June 5, with sorghum planting estimated at 31% in Colorado, 33% in Oklahoma, 42% in Kansas, and 86% in Texas.
The regional winter wheat harvest was underway, but the drought has taken a toll on yields and quality. Poor or very poor ratings were assigned to fully 82% of the acreage in Texas, 55% in Colorado, 49% in Oklahoma, and 41% in Kansas. “Crops are burning up, especially in the Panhandle,” commented one Texas source at midweek.
“Our forecast looks to have a few days of open weather now to let fields, at least in the eastern two-thirds of Kansas, dry down for fieldwork,” said another regional source. “Wheat harvest will begin next week. I have not talked to any farmers that were optimistic about their yields.”
South Central:
Middle Tennessee was hit with severe storms on June 6-8, which included hail, high winds, minor flooding, and a few tornado warnings. Tornado watches were also in effect for several Kentucky counties at midweek.
After multiple days of rain, Arkansas residents enjoyed some sunshine and temperatures in the mid-80s on June 9. Temperatures in the upper-80s and 90s were reported across Louisiana and Mississippi during the week.
Planting was nearly complete in the South Central region. USDA reported that 95-98% of the corn was seeded in Kentucky and Tennessee by June 5, while soybean planting was tracking ahead of average at 73% complete in Kentucky and Tennessee, 86% in Arkansas, and 95-100% in Mississippi and Louisiana.
Cotton planting was also equal to or ahead of the average pace, with 94-100% of the regional crop seeded by June 5. Topdress applications on rice were underway in some locations, with good or excellent ratings assigned to 76-78% of the acreage in Louisiana and Arkansas, 68% in Mississippi, and 44% in Texas.
Southeast:
Strong thunderstorms moved through central North Carolina on June 8, with reports of hail and damaging winds. Scattered storms also brought torrential downpours and gusty winds to the D.C. region on that date, including parts of northern Virginia, where 1-3 inches of rain was reported.
Another band of thunderstorms moved through northern Georgia at midweek, while steady rainfall was reported across central Alabama during the early part of the week. High heat and humidity sparked a number of strong thunderstorms in Florida as well, just days after Tropical Storm Alex inundated parts of Southern Florida with torrential rain on June 3-5.
Cotton planting as of June 5 had progressed to 86-92% complete in the Southeast, with most states tracking close to their five-year averages. Peanut planting was estimated at 98% complete in Virginia, 92-95% in Georgia and Florida, 89-92% in the Carolinas, and 83% in Alabama by that date. North Carolina grower also had 78% of the soybeans planted.