A colder second half of April is expected to slow germination in the northern and western corn belt.
Though the high plains and midwest did see some drought improvements last week, a large portion of the corn belt will turn dry. That will help accelerate planting, but germination may be slow, as colder-than-normal conditions continue.
Forecasts indicate that this week will be both the driest and also one of coolest third week of April that the corn belt has seen in decades. The risk of frost & freeze could trickle down into the central plains. Temperatures should begin to moderate once May rolls around.