Drought more widespread in corn and soybean areas than wheat territory

Half of U.S. corn and soybean territory is in drought, compared to one-third of wheat land, said weekly drought reports on Thursday. Drought is far less prevalent for winter wheat than it was a year ago, while conditions for soybeans are little changed and corn has seen an 11 percentage-point decline, said the USDA’s Ag in Drought report.

Overall, drought covered 33% of the continental United States, about the same as during the last week of December, said the weekly Drought Monitor, produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center. Central and northern Plains states, which include wheat territory, “experienced up to 400% of normal precipitation” in rain and snowstorms last week, said the monitor.

“A weather system brought rain and snow into the Midwest, mainly in the north. Areas of central Illinois and both southeast and northeast Indiana saw improved conditions,” said the monitor. “Conditions in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan remain unchanged.”

More than 80% of Iowa, the No. 1 corn state, was in drought, compared with 67% a year ago. Drought covered 81% of Indiana, 40% of Minnesota, 71.5% of Missouri, and 37% of Wisconsin.

The Ag in Drought report said that 50% of soybean, 45% of corn and 32% of winter wheat territory was in drought. A year ago, 56% of corn, 48% of soybeans, and 64% of winter wheat were affected.