Weekly Weather and Crop Update

The Weekly Weather and Crop Update from the Southern Research and Outreach Center at Waseca showed that the cool weather continued. Every day last week was cooler than normal. In fact 12 of the last 14 days have been cooler than normal. Temperatures last week averaged 66.9 degrees which was 3.7 degrees cooler than normal. Growing degree units totaled 118.5 and that was 17 percent below normal. Since May 1 we have accumulated 666.5 growing degree units and that is 16 percent below normal.

Rainfall last week totaled .54 inches which was .58 inches below normal. This was at least the second week in a row that was dryer than normal. That has allowed farmers to get post emergence herbicide applications on corn and soybeans. The corn that was planted early is now about 28 inches tall and in the V8 stage. Soybeans are in the 3rd or 4th trifoliolate leaf stage. These beans will begin flowering soon and farmers are reminded to check herbicide labels as many have restrictions on applications to flowering soybeans. The later planted beans are likely a week or two away from flowering.