Rainfall over 150 to 200% of normal since April resulted in flooding as rivers and streams overflowed their banks in the Upper Midwest. It will take a while to determine the full impact, however there has been significant crop loss in some areas. Many crop producers need to determine whether replanting corn or soybeans is viable this late in the season.

At this point, newly planted corn would likely be used as livestock feed. Soybeans planted after July 1 in Southern Minnesota may only yield 30- to 35- bushels per acre. This needs to be weighed against crop insurance payments.

Other significant concerns due to excessive moisture include a loss of nitrogen in the soil for growing corn and timely application of herbicides for weed control. Soil nitrogen losses increase substantially during heavy rainfall.

Read more on the challenges created by the excessive rainfall in the Upper Midwest here.