Flooding In Southern U.S. Midwest Threatens Soft Winter Wheat

Jan 04, 2016

The pictures and videos of the flooding have been all over Twitter and the internet the past few days.

Heavy weekend storms caused flooding in parts of the southern U.S. Midwest, threatening the region’s soft red winter wheat, crop experts said on Monday.

A swath of eastern Texas, Arkansas, Missouri and southern Illinois received 3 to 7 inches (7.5 to 18 cm) of rain with localized totals of up to 10 inches (25 cm), MDA Weather Services said in a note to clients.

“With more rain expected in these areas today, flooding is likely and disease risks for the wheat crop will increase,” MDA said. However, the note added, much drier weather was forecast through the next 10 days.

Flood warnings were in effect on Monday in eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois, the National Weather Service said. Thirteen people died in flash floods in those two states over the weekend.

Farmers in Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas grow soft red winter wheat, which is milled into flour for cookies and snack foods. The crop, representing about a quarter of total U.S. wheat production, is planted in autumn and harvested in June and July.

“It’s a little too soon to tell what the overall effect will be, but where water stands for a week or more this time of year, the crop often dies,” said Emerson Nafziger, a University of Illinois agronomist.

“All told,” Nafziger said, “we need to prepare to see a lot of bare spots this spring on flat fields or low spots where the water isn’t able to get away.”

Video: Why Port Infrastructure is Key to Growing Canada's Farms and Economy

Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) knows that strong, modern port infrastructure is vital to the success of Canada’s agriculture. When our ports grow, Ontario grain farmers and Canadian farms grow too—and when we grow, Canada grows.

In this video, we highlight the importance of investing in port infrastructure and how these investments are key to growing Ontario agriculture and supporting global trade. The footage showcases the strength of both Ontario’s farming landscapes and vital port operations, including some key visuals from HOPA Ports, which we are grateful to use in this project.

Ontario’s grain farmers rely on efficient, sustainable ports and seaway systems to move grain to markets around the world. Port investments are crucial to increasing market access, driving economic growth, and ensuring food security for all Canadians.

Why Port Infrastructure Matters:

Investing in Ports = Investing in Farms: Modernized ports support the export of Canadian grain, driving growth in agriculture.

Sustainable Growth: Learn how stronger ports reduce environmental impact while boosting economic stability.

Global Trade Opportunities: Improved port and seaway systems help farmers access new global markets for their grain.

Stronger Communities: Investment in ports means more stable jobs and economic growth for rural communities across Ontario and Canada.

We are proud to support the ongoing investment in port infrastructure and to shine a light on its vital role in feeding the world and securing a prosperous future for Canadian agriculture.

Special thanks to HOPA Ports for providing some of the stunning port footage featured in this video.