Look for temperatures to be above normal with precipitation highly variable across the region. In the Mississippi to Ohio Valley areas, rainfall totals are likely to be near to above normal. West of the Mississippi and the Great Lakes, totals have big differences. The Great Lakes have below-normal totals in store. In the western Midwest, near- to below- normal precipitation is the most likely. Soil-moisture reserves will be needed as crops go through the critical reproductive phases. Irrigation usage was high last year and will, no doubt, be called into the use again in 2017.
Bryce Anderson , DTN