Knee high
[image]
Corn field towering 8 feet along Highway 14 near Janesville, Wisconsin
They say knee high by the 4th of July. I'm not sure how high it's supposed to be by the end of July, but judging by the above picture taken in Wisconsin returing from a weekend road trip to Chicago Sunday I'd say much of our region is doing pretty well!
As of last Friday 73 percent of corn and 74 percent of soybeans are rated in good or excellent condition in Minnesota. Add in the crops listed as "fair" and we're pushing 94 percent.
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What started as a cool wet spring has evolved into a pretty nice summer, and thriving crops are living proof. June temperatures ran 0.3 degrees above average in the metro. July is running 2.2 degrees above average. In spite of rainfall running several inches below average in much of central Minnesota, rains have been timely in many areas.
We're starting to catch up in 90 degree days too. Tuesday's high of 94 was respectable by any summer standard, and the warmest day so far this year. That makes 6 days we've reached 90 or better this year. The average for the whole summer is 13, so we're almost half way there with the possibility we'll add some more over the next week.
Lake water temperatures are peaking near 80 degrees in the metro now. The dog days of summer are here. Enjoy the lazy hazy days as we turn the calendar page to August this week.
PH