June weather and crop report

It is incomprehensible how a month that finished with normal average temperature and above normal rainfall had all farmers concerned about the extreme dryness and cool temperatures.

By Peter Finlayson

The entire month seemed to see-saw between cold and hot spells and the only serious rainfall fell at the beginning on June 5 with 50 mm and at the end on June 22 with 38 mm. The rest of the month was made up of unfulfilled promises from the weather forecasters with only small showers – great hay making weather but very stressful on the crops and the farmers. Even the last rain event at the end of the month varied greatly in a short distance from 3 inches in Elgin, 2 inches in Rockburn, 1.5 inches at the Ormstown Station and 0,75 inches four miles down the road.

June rainfall totaled an unbelievable 102 mm or 4.0 inches, but the weather station has recorded only 136 mm or 5.4 inches of rain since April 12. It is amazing how well our crops on average have done, but our period of increased need of precipitation is still to come.

The average temperature was 18.4 degrees compared to 17.4 last year and the ten years average of 19.0. We had five days with the high over 30 degrees. Heat units for the month were 637 compared to 620 last year and the normal of 686. The accumulated total since May 7 is 1058.

June average temperatures by decade during the last fifty years do not support the problem of global warming. Crops have been variable. Some spring cereals have done very well while others are heading out at about two feet tall. Most farmers report a shortage of first cut May – myself included. Corn is chest to shoulder height, for those still using the saying “knee high by the first of July”, but has changed so rapidly since the rain on the 28th that I had to go to the field to check. Soybeans appear to be the crop most affected by the variable spring weather. The population tends to be weak and the plants struggling. These too could improve with consistent good weather.

                              June

                   Average temperature