June 28, 2021 www.hpj.com WEATHER WATCH 5

www.dayweather.com Cheyenne, WY

Potential AG & Livestock Concerns:

Arkansas Oklahoma South Dakota Wyoming Kansas Nebraska

Texas

Minnesota Colorado New Mexico Iowa Missouri

Arkansas: Fort Smith Colorado Denver Grand Jct. Pueblo Iowa Des Moines Sioux City To Date / Average Kansas: Concordia Dodge City Minnesota Moorhead St. Cloud Missouri Columbia Springfield Nebraska: Lincoln Norfolk North Platte New Mexico Albuquerque Oklahoma Oklahoma City Tulsa S. Dakota: Rapid City Sioux Falls Texas Amarillo Lubbock Wyoming Cheyenne Lander

Forecast and Data Prepared by:

National 7 Day Weather Pattern:

A: Above normal B: Below normal N: Near normal

Regional Weather Outlook For The Week of 6/26 - 7/2 WEATHER FOR 6/26 - 7/2

2021 Precipitation Totals Through 6/21

The forecast period will start with a steep high pressure ridge over the West Coast and Intermountain West that will bring hot and dry weather west of the Rockies. This will also assist in deepening a trough of low pressure from the Front Range east towards the Appalachian Range that will tap into the gulf and bring heavy rain and severe storms at times. As the week progresses, expect little movement in these features, with the ridge persisting through late week, squeezing the trough over the plains. The far southwest will start to see hints of weak and disorganized monsoonal flow with increased showers and storms. Discussion: A cooler and soggy week is in the cards for both states as a broad and slow moving trough brings periods of heavy rain and occasional severe storms along with cool temperatures. Discussion: Eastern areas of both states will be looking at increasing shower and thunderstorm activity throughout the week. Western areas will remain hot with very limited precipitation. Discussion: Eastern sections of both states will be slightly cooler than the west, with the best rain chances in the east, as well. A broad northerly flow will bring cooler than average temperatures through early July. Discussion: Temperatures will be seasonal or slightly below average under a broad northerly flow that will persist through the end of the month. Precipitation chances will be regular, but heavier rains should stay more to the south of Minnesota. Heavy rain and thunderstorms may exacerbate saturated grounds over the Midwest and Heartland, leading to flooding concerns. Temperatures will be cooler in these areas, while warmer and drier weather will sit over the west. Discussion: Wyoming west of the Continental Divide will remain mild, while eastern Wyoming and South Dakota will be under a cool northerly flow. Precipitation will be more scattershot with occasional steady showers. Discussion: Cooler than normal temperatures are expected through the end of the month with above normal precipitation. Showers and storms will be heavy or severe at times. Discussion: Waves of cooler air under a persistent broad trough will bring heavy rain at times as the trough taps into a moisture-rich Gulf. Temperatures, as a result, will be at or below normal.

21.94" / 22.00" 9.36" / 6.93" 2.03" / 4.24" 7.17" / 5.51" 8.04" / 16.34" 10.06" / 12.45" 10.26" / 12.55" 9.19" / 9.61" 4.87" / 9.22" 9.31" / 10.94" 20.19" / 19.38" 28.18" / 21.11" 13.08" / 13.17" 11.42" / 12.44" 11.87" / 9.81" 1.68" / 2.94" 10.94" / 17.14" 15.90" / 19.67"

Temperature Forecast

For 6/26 - 7/2

Precipitation For ecast

For 6/26 - 7/2

National J et Stream Map For 6/30 National J et Stream Map For 6/26

B A A B A B A B

6.38" / 8.57" 8.19" / 11.85" 8.78" / 8.53" 10.46" / 8.27" 12.79" / 7.69" 7.60" / 7.27"

B A N B A N B N A B A N

Weather Watch

Anthracnose and fungicide use in sorghum

Foliar diseases in sorghum are primarily a problem in the United States-in the Delta, southeast and Mid-Atlantic states-where humid and rainy weather favor their proliferation. Of these diseases, anthracnose is easily the most widespread and troublesome. Hybrids differ in their tolerance to anthracnose. Growers in those regions where anthracnose is an annual problem should make it a priority to plant a hybrid with good tolerance. When anthracnose is pres- ent in the field then fungicide application may be considered. An excellent trial examining the effectiveness of fungicides was conducted by Virginia Tech and North Carolina State at eight locations over a three-year peri- od. Five fungicides were com- pared and applied at different growth stages. Anthracnose severity and onset of the disease varied with location. One of the findings of the study was that the onset of the disease in the field had a larger impact on yield than disease severity at the end of the season. Economic return was improved at six of the eight sites when a fungicide was applied. It was also determined that fungicides were only effective when the onset of anthracnose occurred before flowering and humid wet weather prevailed. Of the five fungicides tested, Headline (pyraclostrobin) and Priaxor (pyraclostrobin + fluxapy- roxad) provided the best anthrac- nose control followed by Quadris (azoxystrobin). In summary, foliar fungicides should only be applied to sorghum when the onset of foliar disease occurs before flowering and wet, humid weather is anticipated that will cause the disease to flour- ish. Fungicide should be applied between the boot and early flower- ing stages. Foliar fungicides are often used in other crops to promote overall health even in the absence of dis- ease. However, in sorghum studies yield has seldom been enhanced and it is almost never economical. In 25 trials conducted from 2008 to 2017 in Texas, Kansas, Nebraska and South Carolina, only four tri- als had a significant yield response to fungicide. Of these four, signifi- cant foliar disease was present in three of the trials. In addition, only two had a positive economic return from fungicide application. In many of the 25 trials, researchers report- ed greener and healthier looking plants, but this did not translate into higher yield. Editor's note: Brent Bean, Ph.D., Sorghum Checkoff Director of Agronomy, Lubbock, Texas. For more information visit www.sor- ghumcheckoff.com.

Sorghum Outlook

Brent Bean