Warmer temperatures and little rainfall over the last couple of weeks in Greene County have helped crops catch up in their maturity.

According to the National Weather Service, over the last two weeks, Jefferson has averaged 87 degrees with a total of over two inches of precipitation.  West Central Cooperative Field Agronomist Scott Shannon explains that crops need “growing degree units” to develop.

“So when we’re in that range of 55 (degrees) I believe it is to the 80’s, then we’re accumulating growing degree units.  So what it is, is it’s really just a measure of how many heat units that the plant is accumulating before it reaches maturity.”

Churdan farmer Tim Towers says August is a critical time for soybeans and corn to mature, as long as it stays around 85 degrees with only a couple inches of rainfall this month.

“The soybeans, they’ll be setting pods here in August and hopefully put on plenty of pods and corn (should) have the ears fill clear out to the end (and) fully developed.”

Towers notes that weather is still the driving factor and depending on how this month and next month go, will determine when harvest season begins.