Wet weather could delay harvest across large parts of the Midwest this fall, and farmers may need to prepare for a prolonged pause in fieldwork, according to the director of USDA’s Midwest Climate Hub.
Dennis Todey said recent and repeated rainfall will influence soil conditions and harvest timing for several weeks, possibly extending into the coming months. He noted that a persistent weather boundary has split moisture patterns across the Corn Belt for much of the growing season.
Wet weather could delay harvest in key states
Todey said heavy rain has frequently affected an area stretching from eastern Nebraska and southeast South Dakota through to Ohio. In contrast, he said locations to the north and south, including Minnesota, Wisconsin, parts of Michigan, parts of Missouri, southern Illinois, and far southern Indiana, have been comparatively drier.
The recent moisture has not been uniformly negative. Todey said some drought-affected regions have benefited from the heavier rains, particularly in portions of the Central Plains, southwest Iowa, and Wisconsin, where very dry soils received needed relief.
He added that the increased runoff is also aiding levels on the Mississippi River.
Even so, he expects the pace of harvest to show little movement in the upcoming crop progress report for the central corridor of the Corn Belt. Todey attributed the slowdown to frequent rainfall and lingering cloud cover that limit drying between storms.
Looking ahead, he said the second week of October is forecast to offer the best opportunity for fieldwork, with a relatively drier window that could help producers regain momentum.
The recent moisture has not been uniformly negative. Todey said some drought-affected regions have benefited from the heavier rains, particularly in portions of the Central Plains, southwest Iowa, and Wisconsin, where very dry soils received needed relief.
Wet weather could delay harvest across large parts of the Midwest this fall, and farmers may need to prepare for a prolonged pause in fieldwork, according to the director of USDA’s Midwest Climate Hub.