Heavy rains fell over the far western US Corn Belt over the weekend, stalling corn planting this week, while light showers fell elsewhere, a forecaster said on Monday. From 2 to 5 inches of rainfall was reported in south-east Nebraska, south-west Iowa and eastern South Dakota over the weekend. Lighter showers of 0.5 to 1.5 inch fell in eastern Iowa.
The heaviest weekend rains in the eastern Midwest came across southern areas, which saw 0.25 to 1.0 inch. Parts of Illinois and Wisconsin had 0.10 to 0.50 inch of rain.
"The area that's going to have problems planting is where they had the rains - western Iowa, eastern Nebraska and South Dakota. Outside of that region is not perfect but it is more favourable for planting," said Joel Burgio, a forecaster with DTN Meteorlogix weather service.
The weekend rains were expected to keep farmers in north-west Iowa out of the field until Thursday, grain and livestock traders said. That raises concerns about farmers getting their corn planted by mid-May, the optimal planting time for corn. Already, farmers are behind due to a wet spring with only about half of their crop planted, Chicago grain traders estimated.
The government will release its weekly planting progress update on Monday afternoon. Typically, 64 percent of the corn crop is planted by the first week in May. Scattered rains of 0.10 to 0.50 inch were expected for the western Midwest on Monday, with the remainder of the week dry or a few light showers.
The eastern Midwest will be dry or few light showers over the next two days. Rains of 0.10 to 0.50 inch were expected on Wednesday. Then Friday through Sunday should be dry or a few light showers.
Meteorlogix's Midwest six to 10-day outlook for Saturday through Wednesday called for near to above-normal temperatures and near to above-normal rainfall in South Dakota, Minnesota and northern Iowa and near to below-normal rains elsewhere.