DTN Ag Weather Brief says a ridge in the East and troughs in the West and Pacific will send two western systems eastward across the country over the next several days, with the second system expected to be stronger and push the eastern ridge offshore. The forecast discussion says the U.S. and European models are fairly similar, though the forecast favors the European model.
For U.S. agriculture, the short term message is that widespread active weather could support soil moisture in some places while also creating fresh obstacles for fieldwork. DTN says another system may move through Canada early next week with showers for the Great Lakes, and a larger system may affect the country later next week and into the weekend.
DTN ag weather outlook for the Plains and Midwest
In the Northern Plains, DTN says two more systems will move through the region through Saturday, bringing widespread mixed precipitation and chances for heavy snow. The report says the moisture will be welcome, but early fieldwork will be difficult this week, with colder temperatures likely to linger into next week.
For the Central and Southern Plains, DTN says two more potent systems are expected to bring scattered showers and thunderstorms through Saturday, but they are not likely to reach every area. The report says the southwest Plains, where drought has expanded quickly in recent months, may miss important rainfall, leaving a poor situation for many winter wheat areas. The original report is available here DTN Ag Weather Brief.
Heavy rain helps some areas but slows planting progress
In the Midwest, DTN says a system brought widespread showers and thunderstorms on Tuesday, including some severe weather, and that more rain will continue through Wednesday before two more systems move through by Saturday. The report says some heavy rain could improve soil moisture for planting and ease dryness, but it may also keep farmers out of the fields during an important early spring window.
DTN also says colder bursts of air may allow accumulating snow and freezing rain in northern parts of the Midwest on Wednesday night and Thursday, then again Friday night and Saturday. The forecast section for the Midwest continues to call for isolated to scattered showers through Saturday and mostly dry conditions on Sunday, with temperatures turning cooler by the end of the period. Additional DTN weather coverage is published through DTN Weather.
Delta dryness and global crop concerns remain in focus
In the Delta, DTN says dryness and drought remain major concerns as spring planting increases in April. Two systems are expected to bring chances for showers and thunderstorms, but the report says rainfall is not likely to be enough to reduce drought in too many areas, and next week is expected to turn drier again.
Beyond the United States, the report highlights weather stress in several major crop zones. DTN says Brazil needs more consistent heavy rainfall in the final month of the wet season for a good safrinha corn crop, while Argentina’s rainfall pattern is more favorable for late planted crops than for earlier harvested fields. In Europe, the report says eastern Mediterranean showers are helping winter crops, while Spain has turned drier, allowing recovery from heavy winter rain.
What producers may watch in the next several days
The broad theme in the DTN report is uneven benefit. Rain and snow may improve moisture in some regions, but repeated storms, colder air, and mixed precipitation may also delay planting, slow livestock operations, and reduce the number of workable field days across several major production areas.
Looking ahead, DTN says temperatures should rise in the middle of next week before falling again behind a late week system. That means producers may continue tracking fast changing conditions as early April weather affects wheat, corn, soybeans, cotton, and livestock areas in the United States and abroad. The official report was published by DTN on its agriculture news website.