Extreme heat is painting the worst-case scenario for the Western Corn Belt this week. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey is concerned about not only the duration of the relentless heat in the most recent weather forecast, but the impact it could have at a key time for late planted corn currently pollinating.
The historic heatwave in the West already created record temps this weekend. Glasgow, Montana reached 108 degrees on Sunday. 100 degree heat hit Lawton, Oklahoma.
Rippey says the extended heat could possibly set a few monthly or all-time records the Great Plains.
For the states seeing triple digit heat enter the picture this week, temperatures could continue to crush daily records west of the Mississippi River, which could not only cause crop pollination problems and pose a threat for grain fill in corn, but some of the country’s soybean crop as well.
The latest crop progress report from USDA shows while crop conditions held steady this week, the maturity of the crop is behind. Approximately 37% of the corn crop is silking, which is 11 percentage points behind average. Kansas has 31% of its crop silking as of Sunday, which is 19 points slower than the average pace. 65% of Missouri’s crop is in that stage, which is 7 points behind. Nebraska sits at 45% in the silking stage. South Dakota is only at 13%.
The U.S. soybean crop isn’t as far behind in terms of maturity. USDA says 48% of the soybean crop is blooming, which is 7 points behind normal.
