Recent Rains Revive Crops in Some Areas, But Drought’s Impact Lingers

The northern Plains have seen a mix of fortune with the recent sporadic rains positively affecting some crops, while others suffer from the prolonged effects of previous dry conditions. Although early summer saw drought conditions impacting 70% of the nation’s corn and 63% of its soybeans, by Aug. 8 these numbers had reduced to 49% for corn and 43% for soybeans, due to intermittent rains.

Central Minnesota particularly benefited, with several areas receiving between 1-5 inches of rain in early August. The region displayed optimal or even excess soil moisture in certain depths. One farmer, Jack Sharp from Menahga, Minnesota, recounted the transformation in his soybean crops due to 3 inches of rain received in the first 10 days of August, remarking how the once withered crops are now thriving.

However, the weather pattern earlier in the year was not as kind. May 2023 was considerably dry for a large part of the region, while June experienced higher than usual temperatures, especially in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota. July brought mild conditions to the northern Plains, but left several areas, including Minnesota, North Dakota, and parts of South Dakota, in drought.

While some corn crops in central South Dakota faced challenges due to excessive heat during the growing season, early August rains revitalized soybean fields. Nevertheless, without these rains, the situation would have been far more bleak, as echoed by Sharp.

Another farmer, Ken Schefers from central Minnesota, experienced a significant turnaround after receiving nearly 2 inches of rain on Aug. 13, and another 2.4 inches on July 26. Despite the hardships earlier in the season, Schefers remains optimistic about the yield, especially for soybeans.