National & World Ag News Headlines Rain, Warm Weather May Trigger Midwest Flooding USAgNet - 03/09/2010 Rains and warmer weather this week could trigger flooding in portions of the U.S. Midwest grain belt, prompting concerns of delays to field work ahead of seeding the corn and soy crops, a forecaster said on Monday. Farmers in top grain states like Iowa and Illinois normally begin planting their corn and soybean crops in April. "This is the beginning of flood season. The snow is melting and rain is expected to fall on top it," said Mike Palmerino, a forecaster at DTN Telvent in Boston. "The soils are already saturated and they can not absorb much more moisture into the ground," he said. Heavy snowfall across much of the United States this winter has raised the risk of springtime floods and planting delays. The worst flooding in the Midwest in decades in 2008 helped to propel grain prices to record highs that year. The National Weather Service issued a flood warning for areas along the eastern border of Iowa and the western border of Illinois near the Wapsipinicon and Skunk rivers, tributary rivers of the Mississippi River. No flooding has occurred yet but minor to moderate flooding is forecast, the NWS said. Over the weekend 0.10 to 0.5 inch (0.3 to 1.3 cm) of rain fell in the western Corn Belt. Light rain will continue on Monday with 0.5 to 1.5 inches (1.3 to 3.8 cm) expected to fall Tuesday through Friday across the U.S. Midwest. Temperatures are expected to range between 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Copyright © 2010 - USAgNet.com. All Rights Reserved.