Midwest Floods Threaten Corn and Soybean Yields Amid Heavy August Rainfall
The Midwest region of the United States has been experiencing severe flooding due to heavy rainfall in August, affecting corn and soybean yields. In western Illinois, farmers reported that their fields received up to 12 inches of rain, causing some rivers to approach the tops of levees and leading to concerns about crop damage.
According to Eric Snodgrass, senior science fellow at Nutrien, parts of Illinois received massive amounts of rain in mid-August. Farmer Brian Krukewitt reported that his fields received around 7 inches of rain from August 13-19, causing some corn to lodge and plans for an insurance claim.
In Iowa, disease pressure has been relatively low this growing season compared to last year's southern rust outbreak. However, gray leaf spot and northern corn leaf blight have been observed in cornfields across the state.