UPDATE 1-Snow wreaks havoc in U.S. Midwest, Plains

(Recasts, updates forecast, adds plant closings, details)

By Meredith Davis

CHICAGO Dec 9 (Reuters) - Blowing snow and freezing temperatures slowed grain and livestock movement, shut some processing plants, and halted the protracted corn harvest in portions of the U.S. Midwest and Plains on Wednesday.

Two pork plants in Iowa owned by Tyson Foods Inc (TSN.N) were shut, while the production at some of its other plants in Iowa and Nebraska was reduced or delayed.

Blizzard conditions left 6 to 12 inches of snow in the western Midwest, with some areas getting more than a foot.

Des Moines, Iowa, had 16 inches of snowfall, Mike Palmerino a weather forecaster at DTN Meteorlogix, said.

"This was a blizzard, plain and simple. You had it all -- cold temperatures, wind, and heavy snow," he added.

A corn processor in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, shut down for the day and was not taking any grain. Grain traders said there was 10 inches of snow in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

In Nebraska, five beef plants were closed, trade sources said. Eight to 12 inches of snow fell in the the eastern portion of the state, with 40 mph winds overnight and early into Wednesday, a feedlot operator said.

Additionally, the transportation of grains and livestock and the long-delayed corn harvest were halted by the weather.

"There are weather concerns about the corn that is still in the field. Using USDA acreage and yields, you can say there are around 1.5 billion bushels of corn still in the field, and that's a pretty big chunk," said Shawn McCambridge, an analyst for Prudential Bache Commodities.

The outlook for the Midwest called for temperatures ranging in the single digits to 20s degrees Fahrenheit (-13 to -4 degrees Celsius).

While the worst was over for now, there was another chance of snow and rain on Sunday and Monday, Palmerino said.

"We're keeping a close eye on it. However, calling the next system a 'storm' is premature at this point because the models have trouble with longer range," the forecaster added.

U.S. PLAINS SNOWY, BITTERLY COLD.

Areas in Kansas, Nebraska, and Colorado had temperatures below zero degrees Fahrenheit early Wednesday, but could rise into the teens.

Generally, temperatures in the Plains will range in the low 20s to 30s degrees F for the rest of the week, possibly reaching into the 40s over the weekend.

"Things should get back to normal on Thursday in terms of movement of the animals, grain transportation. Also, I would think things will improve in the feedlots as well," Palmerino said.

Despite delaying transportation and burying the remaining corn, the snow acts as an insulator for growing wheat.

"The snow is beneficial for wheat. It provides protection now, and then, when it melts, it provides moisture that the wheat will use when it breaks dormancy in the spring," Palmerino said.

The Plains will get the same system on Monday and Tuesday that is threatening to bring an uncertain amount of rain and snow to the Midwest, Palmerino said.

LINKS

* DTN World Commodities Weather Spotlight [ID:nDTN601]

* Weekly USDA crop progress highlights [US/CROPS] (Editing by Walter Bagley)