As harvest season gets ready to ramp up, above-normal temperatures are expected to continue throughout the month.
Weather Trends 360 says this year will be one of the hottest first weeks of September in more than 30 years for the Corn Belt. Less than average rain is also expected.
The heat we have seen over the last month has been reflected in corn conditions but experts say it would have been a lot worse if high temperatures came earlier in the year.
USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey breaks down the numbers.
“45% of the U.S. corn production area is in drought. That is down from 57% at the beginning of August and a season-high of 70% back in late June. Very similar picture with soybeans. 40% of the production area is in drought at the end of August, down from 51% at the beginning of the month in a season-high of 63% back on June 27th.”
Rippey says drought has also expanded over spring wheat and winter wheat as planting season approaches.
