Ag Weather Forum

Following is a rundown of major international crop weather discussions in the USDA Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin for the end of September. The summaries are selected in light of market emphasis at this time. -- Bryce Anderson

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WESTERN RUSSIA

Beneficial rain eased short-term dryness in western and northern portions of the region and further improved soil moisture locally in southern Russia. Rainfall totaled 10 to 50 millimeters (.5 to 2 inches) over Ukraine, Belarus, and western Russia, easing short-term drought and moistening soils for winter wheat establishment. Meanwhile, showers in southern Russia (2 to 30 mm, or .07 to 1.3 inches) provided additional soil moisture locally for winter wheat; after a dry second half of the summer, rain in mid-September improved prospects for winter wheat establishment in southern Russia. Nevertheless, satellite-derived vegetation health data continued to depict significant crop stress in growing areas adjacent to the Black Sea Coast as of late September.

EUROPE

Much-needed rain in the north contrasted with mostly dry weather over southern Europe. From southeastern England and northern France into Poland and the Baltic States, moderate to heavy rainfall (5 to 50 mm or .25 to 2 inches) improved soil moisture supplies for wheat and rapeseed planting and establishment. The rain also eased drought concerns, although longer-term deficits (90-day rainfall less than 70% of normal) lingered in France, Germany, and the Low Countries.

AUSTRALIA

For the third consecutive week, unfavorably dry weather persisted throughout large portions of the wheat belt. The generally dry weather spurred early harvesting of drought-plagued wheat in the northeast. Elsewhere in the wheat belt, the dryness likely caused further reductions in the yield prospects of winter crops, many of which were advancing through the reproductive or filling stages of development.

BRAZIL

Showers provided additional moisture for soybeans and other summer row crops in key production areas of central and southern Brazil. Rainfall totaled 25 to 100 mm (1 to 4 inches) from southern Mato Grosso do Sul to Rio Grande do Sul, maintaining adequate to abundant levels of moisture for germinating summer crops, even though the moisture was untimely for mature wheat. According to the government of Parana, wheat was 20% harvested as of Sept. 24, with most of the remaining crop in the filling to mature stages; soybeans and first-crop corn were 18 and 58% planted, respectively. Similarly, light to moderate rain (10 to 50 mm or .4 to 2 inches) continued over much of Mato Grosso, an exception being the southeastern sections of the state which received beneficial rainfall in recent weeks. Government reports from Mato Grosso depicted soybean planting at 4% complete as of Sept. 28. Mostly dry weather also returned to sugarcane and coffee areas of Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais following last week's much-needed rain.

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Bryce Anderson can be reached at Bryce.anderson@dtn.com

Follow him on Twitter @BAndersonDTN

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