Volume 56 Number 20 November 17 2011This Week's Weather & Pests As the growing season began, cool, damp weather and soils delayed the start of planting and fieldwork. The spring planting pace was the slowest in more than a decade and farmers became concerned about diminishing corn yield potential as the optimal planting period expired. Conditions improved during the last half of May and considerable planting progress was made by month's end. June featured historic heat and record precipitation events, although the mild weather and adequate soil moisture levels were very beneficial for emerging crops. July was one of the warmest on record. Relentless heat and humidity stressed summer crops, particularly the vulnerable pollinating corn crop. By August, most early-season planting delays had been offset by high temperatures and crop development was ahead of the 5-year average. An early and widespread frost arrived on September 14. At the close of another growing season, harvest reports are favorable, despite the many weather adversities of 2011. |
