Rain May Bring Planting Delays For Ohio Valley and Plains

The Ohio Valley is expected to see precipitation through the middle of the week, with rains concentrated in Ohio, southern Indiana, and Illinois. Later in the week, a low will move into the Northern Plains, bringing precipitation to the eastern halves of North and South Dakota. 

Matt Griffin, director of meteorological development for BAM Weather, said farmers in Ohio will see planting delays this week. 

“I’m concerned – especially through Wednesday – these scattered downpours in Ohio will continue to delay planting there,” Griffin said. “Having talked to several folks in Ohio, I know they’re kind of behind the eight ball getting in the fields, and I don’t think there’s much alleviation as far as a sustained dry stretch through Wednesday.” 

According to the most recent Crop Progress report, Ohio is 2 percentage points behind the 5-year average for corn planted. 

Griffin also said the Ohio Valley isn’t the only region that can expect potential delays this week. A low will settle over eastern North and South Dakota and bring precipitation on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Northern Nebraska may get some precipitation as well.

Planting Delays in Plains

“This will be a really good shot for some rains in areas that really need it in the Dakotas. That would kind of split North Dakota and South Dakota in half,” Griffin said. “That’s where the better rainfall potential is, but I’m concerned further west you are in the Dakotas, and some of the areas along the Missouri, they kind of miss out.”

Planting is moving along efficiently in the Plains, as the most recent Crop Progress report said that South Dakota is 28 percentage points ahead of the five-year average in soybeans planted, and 26 percentage points ahead of the five-year average in corn planted. North Dakota is 18 percentage points ahead of the five-year average in soybeans planted, and 25 percentage points ahead of the five-year average in corn planted.

For states like Iowa, Missouri, and Kansas, Griffin said he sees a “lull” in precipitation over the next seven days. The lack of precipitation is not good for western Iowa and much of Kansas, both of which are experiencing some dryness and drought. 

“In Iowa and to some degree, some portions of northwestern Illinois, Missouri, Kansas — areas that have been dry – I don’t see a whole lot of tremendous alleviation over the next seven days,” Griffin said. 

Frost Potential

Griffin also mentioned the chance for frost and some localized freeze risk over the weekend in the Northern Plains. 

“I’m concerned about portions of northeastern South Dakota, about anywhere in North Dakota, the northern four-fifths of Minnesota, and even to a degree portions of western Wisconsin for some frost risk and maybe even localized freeze risk that can develop over the weekend,” Griffin said. 

According to AccuWeather, the low in Rugby, North Dakota will drop from 55 degrees on Tuesday to 30 degrees on Saturday. The low in Bemidji, Minnesota, will drop from 60 degrees on Tuesday to 33 degrees on Saturday.