Drought Conditions Persist - Little Rainfall Expected

The previous post outlined the upcoming pattern change and the chance for rain, but unfortunately any rainfall we do receive Tuesday doesn't look to be much.  And the remainder of the week looks pretty dry, too.

We desperately need the rainfall because we've only received half an inch of rain during the month of September.  Normally by this time in the month rainfall totals are over two and a half inches.  But with the lack of rain, this has put us in over a two inch deficit.  There wasn't much change in the drought monitor from last week to the previous week - with much of Illinois remaining in the abnormally dry conditions.  However I wouldn't be surprised if parts of Illinois were placed under moderate drought conditions with the next issuance of the drought monitor this Thursday.

The excessive rainfall hurt farmers in Spring with planting, causing many to replant their crop.  Now the excessive dry weather will likely hurt farmers with overall yield of both corn and soybean.  It's early in the harvesting season, but there have been some farmers out in the fields already harvesting soybeans.  Typically this takes place either the second or third week in October.  And if you've seen any of the combines in the fields, they are kicking up A LOT of dust.

While it's never good to go into the winter months with dry soil, for corn and soybeans soil moisture can often times be made up during the spring months.  For winter wheat and alfalfa, it's a bit different.  This is where we need adequate moisture in the soil during the winter months.  If there isn't, those crops can go into shock before Spring.

Unfortunately the outlook for the next week or two doesn't look overly promising for any significant rainfall.  And this may be a pattern that continues into the month of October.