Warm weather continues to push crop development across the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest. Peterson lead agronomist Rick Swenson says most locations gained about 30 more growing degree units than normal over the past week. Weekly GDU totals ranged from 115 at northern locations to 178 farther south. Some locations have now passed 2,000 GDUs for the growing season. Most areas still need about 400 to 500 GDUs for corn to reach black layer. That is down from 550 to 650 GDUs a week earlier. The bigger concern remains moisture. Most areas still need rain, with limited chances in the forecast.
