By Lexie Maloy
Product Marketing Intern

Spring is finally here, and planting is right around the corner. Current weather conditions and forecasted outlooks have many farmers wondering what 2021’s growing season is going to have in store.

Soil moisture shortages could be a big problem for this year’s growing season. Over half of the country is currently affected by drought conditions. The USDA is predicting these drought conditions to persist throughout much of the country this growing season.

USDA United States Drought Monitor Map March 20, 2012 (Left) and March 23, 2021 (Right)

As of March 23, the USDA has estimated more than 40% of the High Plains region to be in a severe drought and 50% of the Midwest to be abnormally dry with 12% being in a moderate drought.

Some are questioning if 2021 could shape up to look like the drought of 2012. Comparing the USDA’s drought maps for March of 2021 and March of 2012, many of the Midwest states have an abnormally dry or no drought classification, but the High Plains region shows more moderate and severe drought classifications in 2021 compared to the 2012 drought map.

Although it is unlikely that 2021 reaches the magnitude of the drought of 2012, farmers should prepare for what these current dry conditions could bring. A likely possibility of early-season heat paired with these dry conditions could benefit farmers as they work to get their crops in the ground this spring.

If long-term drought is a concern, talk to your AgVenture Yield Specialist about AgVenture brand Optimum® AQUAmax® products available for your area. These products are specially bred for drought tolerance but will thrive and grow, in rain or shine. AgVenture’s lineup of Optimum AQUAmax products features multiple trait packages in a range of maturities with several end-use options, including silage options in our Total Forage System.

“In the western Corn Belt, due to the possibility of drought in some form every year, AgVenture brand Optimum AQUAmax hybrids help farmers defend their yields by responding to the conditions and exceeding yield over competitors’ products,” said Louis Sutton, regional product manager for AgVenture’s western region. “Plus, if a wetter yield comes, they do not lose any yield because our Optimum AQUAmax hybrids feature an elite germplasm designed for solid yields in any environment.”