Corn, soybean cotton drought areas expand amid record heat

Drought Monitor
Drought Monitor
(Pro Farmer)

As of Aug. 29, the U.S. Drought Monitor showed 50% of the U.S. was covered by abnormal dryness/drought, unchanged from the previous week. USDA estimated drought (D1 or higher) covered 45% of corn production areas and 40% of soybeans, both up two percentage points from the previous week. Drought expanded five points to cover 37% of cotton areas. The Drought Monitor noted, “continued intensification of drought across areas of the Midwest, South, Southwest and the Pacific Northwest. In the Midwest, extreme heat impacted areas of the region including Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Illinois with temperatures soaring 6 to 10+ degrees F above normal. Daily high temperature records were broken across the region during the past week, including in Chicago (98), Milwaukee (101), Minneapolis (101), and Des Moines (100).”

For the Midwest, the Drought Monitor noted: “For the week, light precipitation accumulations (<2 inches) were observed across areas of Missouri, southern Illinois, southern Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. On the map, some degradations were made in areas of Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois where both short- and long-term precipitation deficits persist. Average temperatures for the week were well above normal (2 to 10+ degrees F) across much of the region with the greatest anomalies observed across areas of southern Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, southern Illinois, and southwestern Wisconsin.”

For the Plains, the Drought Monitor stated: “On this week’s map, degradations were made in northern portions of North Dakota and in eastern Kansas. Conversely, recent precipitation during the past 30-60-day period led to some minor improvements on the map in drought-affected areas of southeastern Nebraska. Across most of the Plains, hot and dry conditions prevailed this week except for some isolated shower activity along the Kansas-Nebraska border region where 1 to 3 inches were observed. Average temperatures for the week were well above normal (2 to 8 degrees F) with the greatest departures observed in northwestern North Dakota and eastern portions of Nebraska and Kansas.”

 

drought monitor

 

Latest News

H&P Report negative compared to pre-report expectations
H&P Report negative compared to pre-report expectations

Nearly every category topped the average pre-report estimates.

After the Bell | March 28, 2024
After the Bell | March 28, 2024

After the Bell | March 28, 2024

Pro Farmer's Daily Advice Monitor
Pro Farmer's Daily Advice Monitor

Pro Farmer editors provide daily updates on advice, including if now is a good time to catch up on cash sales.

PF Report Reaction: Bullish USDA data for corn
PF Report Reaction: Bullish USDA data for corn

Corn planting intentions and March 1 stocks came in lower than expected.

Report Snapshot: USDA shows lighter-than-expected corn acres and stocks
Report Snapshot: USDA shows lighter-than-expected corn acres and stocks

USDA reported corn acres of 90.036 million acres for 2024 and March 1 stocks of 8.347 billion bu., both well below trade estimates. Soybean acres were slightly lower than expectations, while stocks were higher.