Weather Challenges Disrupt Midwest, East Coast Farmers

Farmers across the Midwest and East Coast are contending with diverse weather challenges that are impacting planting and harvest schedules. In Maryland, three years of drought have drastically reduced yields at First Fruits Farm, necessitating better irrigation and increased reliance on outside donations. Meanwhile, Ohio and Wisconsin farmers face excessive rainfall, which has delayed planting and raised concerns over unequal government support between produce and grain growers. In Iowa, despite frequent heavy rain limiting fieldwork to just over two days per week, corn and soybean planting rates remain slightly ahead of the five-year average. Wet conditions have helped alleviate some drought but continue to disrupt the agricultural calendar. These developments highlight the growing influence of shifting climate patterns on U.S. agriculture.