Unpredictable Spring Weather Disrupts Planting Plans Across U.S. and Canada
By Aleah Harle, Farms.com Risk Management Intern
Following historic weather events across several regions in the Midwest and mid-South last week, farmers are growing increasingly concerned about the impact on their crops. The extreme storm system – which brought tornados, torrential rain, and widespread flooding – claimed the lives of at least two dozen people and reached record rainfall levels, including 15.68 inches of rainfall in Kentucky.
With the ongoing discussions about drought concerns in the U.S., particularly in reference to January’s dry conditions, this recent weather event has helped ease some of those fears. The latest update from the U.S. Drought Monitor shows notable improvements of moisture in comparison to previous weeks, especially across portions of the U.S. Midwest. However, severe drought conditions persist in Texas and its neighbouring regions, where farmers remain concerned about the lack of relief.
With hopes for an early planting season disappearing and less than ideal planting conditions, the planting window for spring wheat, soybeans, and corn is becoming increasingly tight. Farmers typically plant these crops in mid-April, but many have been forced to delay their operations. In some areas – such as Arkansas – those who managed to plant early are now having to replant due to extensive damage to crops as flooding overtook farmland across the Delta and into the Ohio River Valley. Others are still waiting as it remains too cold!
“The impact on agriculture will be from flooding, which could damage wheat in low-lying areas as it may be smothered by water,” said Drew Lerner, Senior Agricultural Meteorologist and President of World Weather Inc. “Prolonged delays in spring planting are expected across parts of Arkansas, the northern Delta, and the Ohio River Valley, with fieldwork on hold for an extended period. Any early-season corn that was planted in the past week or two will likely need to be replated.”
As farmers deal with the fallout from flooding, the 2025 planting season is shaping up to be one of the most difficult in recent years but its still early. The storm system’s timing – right in the beginning of planting season - has disrupted fieldwork across major crop regions, forcing producers to weigh agronomic decisions against financial pressures.
Current forecasts hint at a drier trend in HRW areas and the southwestern and central Corn Belt, though uncertainty remains. As for Ontario, it is expected to see some rain as a second storm system moves across the Canadian border over the weekend, however, precipitation is to be concentrated just north of the low-pressure centre. While the system is not looking strong enough to draw significant moisture, a potential system late next week may bring some more widespread rain to Ontario, possibly slowing farmers fieldwork advancements. Western Canada, in contrast, will be seeing sunny conditions, ideal for Canadian farmers to continue with their spring field work and with their plantings for wheat, canola, and barley. The conditions are not optimal enough to plant in April.
“Changeable conditions will persist over the next ten days as the temperature roller-coaster continues from coast-to-coast. Below-seasonal conditions will stick around for the Great Lakes and portions of the West Coast, while warmer conditions remain confined to the Prairies and Far North”, states the Weather Channel on April 11, when discussing what is in store for Canada for the remainder of Spring. “An upper-level ridge is expected to anchor itself over the Great Lakes and will bring a temporary reprieve of warmer temperatures to the East through late April”. Ontario farmers may see only minor delays in spring fieldwork, however the potential system late next week could bring more widespread rain which may significantly slow down planting progress, while Western Canadian farmers have ideal conditions with good soil conditions and timely seeding. (Please see map below).
For now, all eyes are on the weather and the clock, as U.S. eastern corn belt farmers hope for a break to salvage what’s left of an already shrinking planting window, while Canadian farmers are looking at a mixed bag of weather conditions that will affect fieldwork differently across the country.
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