In the latter half of the growing season, there tends to be limited rainfall and therefore, cooler temperatures are preferred. Historically, we can look back to the 1992 growing season and try to draw some comparisons to 1996. The big difference between these two years was the supply of moisture in the first half of the growing season. Most of the state was experiencing a moisture deficit during May and June of 1992, whereas in 1996, there was an abundance of moisture. With the exception of the last couple of weeks in June and the first week in July, temperatures in 1996 have been cooler than normal.
Cool temperatures are good for silking and pollination.
These cooler temperatures have been excellent for silking and pollination. The silking pace for 1992 was only slightly ahead of where we are now in 1996. In 1992, many were surprised that a cooler than normal July and August produced a record crop. But remember, the 1992 crop was planted on time and in many areas it was not fully mature and was very wet at harvest. Many fields across the state will silk after August 1.