2018 was a challenging growing season due to the weather, but what is the outlook for 2019? Iowa State University Extension Climatologist Elwynn Taylor says many areas in South Dakota, but especially the southeast, went into the winter with a full soil moisture profile. This may hamper spring planting but otherwise he says it’s beneficial.

He says it’s also too early to tell if the growing season will be harsh or mild, the latter of which translates into higher yields.

And Taylor says even though the corn belt has put together a good string of above trendline yields, he is optimistic about another year of above average production.

Taylor spoke yesterday at the Dakota Farm Show in Vermillion.