Eastern Cornbelt:
Highs across Central Illinois were in the upper-40s to mid-50s during the week, with an increased chance of scattered showers on Thanksgiving. Similar conditions were reported in Indiana, with highs climbing to the 50s ahead of a strong chance of precipitation on Nov. 24-25.
Sunny and mild conditions were reported across central and northern Ohio during the week, with a slight chance of rain by the end of the week. Those conditions created favorable harvest weather, allowing regional growers to wrap up 92-97% of the corn harvest by Nov. 20, with all three states tracking ahead of their five-year averages.
Sources said fall fertilizer application continued at a steady pace in the region. “Fall application hasn’t been overwhelming at all, however it has been steady for a long time,” said one Indiana contact. “Volumes have been great and continue to move.”
Western Cornbelt:
Warmer temperatures were reported across Iowa and Nebraska during the week, which melted most of the previous week’s snow. Highs reached the mid-40s to low-50s in many locations at midweek, with the mild weather expected to last into the Thanksgiving weekend.
Temperatures in the 50s were also common across Missouri during the week, although parts of the state were expecting an increased chance of rain on Thanksgiving.
The fall harvest was winding down rapidly in the region, with progress tracking ahead of the average pace for all crops in all three states. Corn growers had 96-99% of the crop in the bin by Nov. 20, along with 97% of Missouri’s cotton crop and 98% of Nebraska’s sorghum crop.
Southern Plains:
Mostly dry conditions were reported across Kansas and Oklahoma, with highs reaching the 50s during the week. The weather was an improvement from the previous weekend, when highs struggled to reach the 40s in many locations, and lows dipped to the teens.
Temperatures in central and northern Texas were also tracking in the mid-50s to low-60s, but a cold front was expected to bring scattered showers and storms at midweek, with the wet weather continuing through Thanksgiving and the end of the week.
New Mexico was also bracing for a stormy holiday, with forecasts warning of wind, rain, and snow on Nov. 24-25. In Colorado, a dusting of snow was in the forecast for the Front Range on Thanksgiving, although temperatures at midweek were reported in the balmy mid-50s.
The fall harvest was nearly complete in the Southern Plains, with progress tracking ahead of the average pace for all crops. The corn and sorghum harvests were 95-100% complete in the region by Nov. 20, while the cotton harvest had progressed to 71% complete in Texas, 75% in Oklahoma, and 85% in Kansas. Growers in Colorado and Kansas also had 90-93% of the sunflowers harvested by that date.
South Central:
After a cold weekend that prompted hard freeze warnings across the South Central region, temperatures before Thanksgiving warmed to average or above-average levels in many locations. Temperatures in Jackson, Tenn., dropped to a record 14 degrees on Nov. 21, but were expected to reach the upper-50s and low-60s by midweek.
Forecasts warned of wet weather on Thanksgiving and the upcoming weekend. While scattered showers were likely for Tennessee and Kentucky, heavy rain was possible across Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
The fall harvest was nearly complete in the South Central region, with progress tracking ahead of average. Growers in Kentucky and Tennessee had 99-100% of the corn in the bin by Nov. 20, while the cotton harvest had progressed to 90% complete in Tennessee, 98% in Mississippi, and 100% in Louisiana and Arkansas.
Southeast:
Weather across Virginia and the Carolinas was described as sunny but cool early in the week, but highs were expected to reach the mid-60s again by midweek. Scattered rain showers were in the forecast for Nov. 24-25.
Scattered showers were also moving through central and northern Alabama at midweek, with more significant rainfall expected late on Thanksgiving and into the holiday weekend. Highs in the 60s were common across the state at midweek.
The prior weekend brought freeze warnings to parts of Georgia and northern Florida, but warmer weather moved in during the Thanksgiving week. The dry weather aided the fall harvest, which was tracking ahead of the average pace in all the Southeast states.
The cotton harvest as of Nov. 20 was 88% complete in North Carolina, 87% in Alabama and Virginia, 79% in Georgia, and 73% in South Carolina. The peanut harvest had reportedly progressed to 94% complete in South Carolina, 95% in Georgia, 98% in Alabama, 99% in North Carolina, and 100% in Florida and Virginia.