Leading agriculture meteorologist Eric Snodgrass from Nutrien Ag Solutions is predicting another dry growing season for areas west of the Mississippi River and wet conditions are anticipated to the east. With 75% of the continental U.S. already in a drought, growers to the West are facing more perilously dry conditions. Seasonal forecasts are aligning with typical La Niña conditions that are set to transition later this year to a generally more precipitous El Niño.

The Eastern Cornbelt and Delta regions are expected to see a good amount of moisture over the coming month, according to Snodgrass, which could create a smaller planting window in those areas. While this is nothing new to farmers, Snodgrass does remind that it can create vulnerabilities when a majority of the crop is planted in the same window.

Read more on expected growing conditions this spring.