Weekend Weather Expected to Thrash Corn and Soybeans

WESTMINSTER, CO – A hard freeze is expected across a significant portion of the corn belt over the next several days with temperatures expected to drop into the twenties across North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Iowa. This will end the growing season for both corn and soybeans in these areas. While the timing of the weather event is not outside of the norm, the fact that the crop is extremely late is. According to Maxar Weather Desk, as of Sunday, only 22 percent of the corn crop had reached maturity in North Dakota and only 36 percent of the South Dakota crop is mature. Overall, Maxor meteorologists estimate that 14 percent of the corn crop and 5 percent of the soybean crop will face the risk for some freeze damage. Adding insult to injury, heavy snowfall is expected across the Northern Plains over the next several days as two waves of low pressure move through the region. The heaviest snowfall is expected in central and eastern North Dakota, where snowfall amounts of 1-3 feet are possible. The heavy snowfall may also damage the soybean crop and any spring wheat that has not been harvested.