July has been steady for the first three quarters of the month – hot and humid – and will continue that way for the remainder of the month.
The average temperature for the month so far is 22.8°C while the average temperature for the first half of the month was . . . 22.8°C. The average temperature for the entire month is normally 21.1°C so we’re looking at a warmer than usual July. The slightly warmer than average temperatures is largely due to warmer nighttime lows which are running 4-5°C above normal.
With the warm weather, the corn heat unit (CHU) count continued to aggregate nicely and ended at 563 CHU for the first three weeks of July, which compares nicely with the prorated normal of 515 CH. Normal for the entire month is 799 CHU and the total for the season starting on May 19 is now 1571 CHU. For those who managed to plant corn in the first half of May, the accumulated total will be approximately 1700 CHU.
Total precipitation continued to accumulate close to normal. Precipitation for the last week was 18mm bringing the month to date total to 76mm, which is slightly above average.
The corn has been lapping up the heat and humidity to put on phenomenal growth and the soybeans and peas are coming along nicely with the hot temperatures as well. The strawberries are done but blueberries and raspberries are in full swing for the season, and there’s ample sweet corn on the market, which is two weeks ahead of schedule!