Midwest Harvests Halted by Prolonged Rainfall

A prolonged period of heavy rain has hindered corn and soybean harvesting in parts of the Midwest, according to the National Weather Service. The remnants of Hurricane Polo contributed to excessive rainfall from Kansas and Nebraska through Missouri, Iowa, and Illinois, prompting flood warnings and advisories.

Farther east, Indiana and Ohio are experiencing slowed fieldwork due to rainfall. In Ohio, nearly 40% of fields already had surplus soil moisture at the start of harvest, making some areas vulnerable to further delays.

A USDA report revealed that Indiana averaged only one day suitable for fieldwork during the previous week, while Ohio recorded 2.6 days. However, forecasters predict a drier pattern should establish itself across most of the Corn Belt by October 5.