AMES, Iowa – While most of the crops are harvested in the Farm World readership area, the latest USDA crop conditions and progress report focused on monitoring fall seedings of winter grains and cover crops. The report was issued Nov. 29 and drought conditions were a topic of discussion. 

“Winter wheat is doing OK,” said Dennis Todey, USDA Midwest Climate Hub director in Ames, Iowa. “Fall seeding occurred in fairly dry conditions for winter wheat and cover crops; both did seem to get established OK with a little bit of rain. Winter wheat in the Plains is a different story. Much drier conditions have set up very poor establishment.”

He said drier conditions are a concern all across the central part of the country.

“The (latest) U.S. Drought Monitor supports this, with most of the central part of the U.S. in some form of drought,” he said. “Eastern Corn Belt states are not as bad and have a better chance of improvement, compared to the central and western Corn Belt.

“Climatology and La Nina likely have a better chance of producing precipitation, which would ease dryness in the eastern Corn Belt,” he added. “There is less long-lasting concern.”

But he said the central and western Corn Belts and the Plains are in a much different situation.

“Less precipitation occurs in the winter overall, and La Nina decreases those chances, especially in the central Plains,” he said. “Drought in these areas is going to persist into the spring, where we will be very dependent on what happens with spring precipitation.

“This issue also plays into the Mississippi River (drought) situation,” he said. “Easing drought in the east, hopefully, will produce enough runoff from the Ohio (River) to help the Lower Mississippi (River). There will not be much help from the Missouri and Upper Mississippi (rivers) until spring, when we hopefully have some runoff from snow.”

State Climatologist of Iowa Justin Glisan agreed with Todey, saying much of the eastern Corn Belt is faring better, with a majority of coverage in the abnormally dry-to-moderate range.

“The most intense extent of drought is west of the Mississippi River, with a higher concentration of severe drought to exceptional drought in western Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas,” he said. “Soil profiles in the Midwest and High Plains are dry, and in need of additional moisture.

“With winter freeze-up occurring or nearing, the driest locations will need good snowpack melt and wetter spring conditions to replenish depleted profiles,” he added.

In Indiana, winter preparations have already started as many farmers throughout the state wrapped up harvest, said State Statistician Nathanial Warenski.

“Soil moisture levels increased slightly from the previous week, with 53 percent of topsoil moisture reported as adequate or surplus,” he said. “The average temperature for the week was 40.1 degrees Fahrenheit, 0.80 degrees above normal for the state.

“The amount of rainfall varied from none to 1.26 inches over the week,” he added. “The statewide average precipitation was 0.56 inches, 0.45 inches below normal. There were 5.3 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending Nov. 27.”

In addition, Indiana’s winter wheat emergence approached completion as it continued ahead of its five-year average pace, with 62 percent of the crop rated in good-to-excellent condition, he said. Other activities for the week included lime and fertilizer applications.

In Illinois, the USDA said there were 5.7 days suitable for field work during the week ending Nov. 27.

“Statewide, the average temperature was 40 degrees, 1.7 degrees above normal,” the report said. “Precipitation averaged 0.70 inches, 0.22 inches below normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 12 percent very short, 16 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus.

“Subsoil moisture supply was rated 15 percent very short, 24 percent short, and 59 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus,” the report added. “Winter wheat emerged reached 84 percent, compared to the five-year average of 93 percent. Winter wheat condition rated 1 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 64 percent fair, 24 percent good, and 6 percent excellent.”

In Michigan, above-freezing temperatures helped clear fields of snow, allowing producers to continue harvesting, said Marlo D. Johnson, director of the USDA-NASS Great Lakes Regional Office in East Lansing, Mich.

“According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor, counties in the eastern half of the Lower Peninsula were reported as abnormally dry, and counties along Lake Huron in the Southeast and Thumb Region continued to experience moderate drought,” she said.

“Producers reported fields and pastures as muddy and wet from rain and snowmelt,” she added. “Corn harvest picked up pace where snow melted and fields became clear; moisture content at harvest was reported as 18 percent unchanged from the previous week.” Other activities during the week included fall tillage where conditions allowed manure hauling and prepping for winter.

In Ohio, a cool and mostly dry week was interrupted by late week showers as farmers completed their final harvest activities of the fall season, said State Statistician Cheryl Turner.

“Topsoil moisture conditions were rated 14 percent very short, 31 percent short, 52 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus,” she said. “Statewide, the average temperature for the week ending on Nov. 27 was 39.9 degrees, 0.6 degrees above normal. Weather stations recorded an average of 0.56 inches of precipitation, 0.27 inches below average,” adding there were 5.2 days suitable for fieldwork.

She said corn for grain was 95 percent harvested, and the average moisture content of corn grain at harvest was 18 percent.

“Corn harvest was delayed in some western counties as farmers waited for space at grain elevators to become available,” she said. “Winter wheat was 96 percent emerged and winter wheat condition was rated 58 percent good to excellent; in the northwest, rain and warmer weather supported strong wheat growth.” She added a limited share of planned cover crops remained to be planted in western counties.

In Iowa, the USDA said farmers closed the season with 6.2 days suitable for fieldwork, with warmer weather allowing for tillage and fertilizer applications; there were also reports of a few scattered corn fields remaining to be harvested.

“In the face of challenging weather conditions and economic uncertainty, Iowa farmers once again showed their resiliency by producing yet another strong crop,” said Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig.

“With harvest nearly complete, Iowa farmers are looking ahead to next year by considering input choices and conservation practices, and making decisions about marketing,” he added. “Wet conditions would be welcome in the weeks ahead to help chip away at precipitation deficits and to replenish our soil moisture levels.” Glisan said abnormally dry and drought conditions cover 93 percent of Iowa.   

In Kentucky, as temperatures normalized, rain moved in for much of the state, said David Knopf, USDA Kentucky field office director in Louisville.

 “Despite the precipitation, producers pushed ahead with field work as the harvest season is coming to a close,” he said. “For many, subsoil remains very dry. The soybean harvest is now 97 percent complete. Currently, tobacco is 72 percent stripped.

“Winter wheat condition has improved with mild temperatures,” he added. “With wheat nearly all planted, many producers have expressed concern with emergence as there has been an overall lack of rain through the planting season.”

Overall, he said, the state only averaged 0.38 inches, adding to deficits over the past few months: “In fact, over the past 90 days, a large portion of western and central Kentucky are running 6-8-plus inches below normal; roughly 44 percent of the state remains in a severe drought.”

In West Tennessee, the USDA said rain came on Thanksgiving Day, bringing much needed moisture to emerging winter wheat. In Middle Tennessee, less rain was received. Wheat was slow to germinate due to the continuing dry conditions. The dry weather also contributed to declining pasture conditions, leading livestock producers to have to feed hay earlier than planned.

In East Tennessee, the USDA said “dry conditions also prevailed. Fortunately, mild temperatures contributed to pasture growth, bringing at least some relief to livestock producers.” The state’s report said 95 percent of cotton was harvested; 96 percent of soybeans was harvested; 96 percent of winter wheat was harvested; and 85 percent of winter wheat emerged.

Glisan said short-term outlooks into the middle of December indicated elevated chances of colder conditions across the Upper Midwest, with above-average chances for wetter conditions spanning the Corn Belt into western Ohio.