Midwest crops get beneficial rains

Crops across the Midwest have faced a variety of weather conditions so far during this growing season.

Much of central and southern Missouri, as well as parts of Illinois, saw abundant rain during the spring that caused some planting delays. Other areas had a fairly dry spring, and then much of the Midwest dealt with a mid- to late-June heat wave accompanied by high winds that dried out crops.

But fortunately, late June brought relief in the form of widespread rains across Missouri, Iowa and Illinois. Some areas of those states remain in drought or abnormally dry, according to the July 3 U.S. Drought Monitor, but the situation has improved for many fields.

Iowa State University Extension agronomist Aaron Saeugling says conditions in his southwest Iowa region were getting challenging before the rain moved through. Crops have been trying to catch up from a generally dry spring.

“Western Iowa, the heat was a little bit harder on us,” he says. “We were a little shorter on rain. We had some corn rolling.”

All things considered, he says the corn still has potential as the crop works through the July heat.

“The corn is looking OK,” Saeugling says.

The soybeans have been bouncing back after early struggles.

“Our beans kind of perked up,” Saeugling says. “They got in gear after a slow start.”