South America Calling

Purdue University's Center for Commercial Agriculture on Wednesday examined issues around Brazil's production forecasts for 2027. Like U.S. farmers, Brazilian farmers face low commodity prices, as well as high fertilizer and input costs. Brazilians also face tough credit conditions...

Yet another month of below-normal precipitation puts into question how much corn Brazil can produce with its safrinha crop.

Safrinha corn planting is slightly behind schedule, a large concern with limited soil moisture and only about two months of the wet season left.

There are mixed signals for precipitation across Brazil through the end of February, which could influence safrinha (second-crop) corn planting.

Rainfall has been very scant the last several weeks in Argentina, but the weather pattern is picking up in February.

Rainfall has been good enough for soybeans, but not for building soil moisture for the coming safrinha corn crop.

Three straight weeks of falling soil moisture and crop conditions are taking a toll on corn and soybeans in Argentina.

Recent dry weather during the last week has resulted in slight drops in soil moisture and crop conditions for corn and soybeans. That trend is likely to continue.

Though it hasn't been perfect by any means, the weather situation in South America generally remains favorable for crops.

It has finally started raining consistent, heavy amounts across central and northern Brazil.

A front that moves through Argentina and southern Brazil this weekend is forecast to produce widespread precipitation. But that may be the last one for a while, with drier trends in all model solutions.

One more week of good weather for all of South America is in the forecast. But that could be the last one for a while, turning some areas into hot and dry conditions.

Long-range models seem to agree that a flip in the weather pattern will occur in November, bringing heavier rain to central Brazil, but drying out southern Brazil and Argentina.

A strong front this weekend may clear out rain for Southern, Central Brazil next week. Here's how it may affect crops.

After two weeks of nearly no rain, consistent showers are finally starting to build in central Brazil.

The official start of the wet season has central Brazil producers going full bore on soybean planting, but a continued dry weather forecast threatens those plants.

After a front produced some areas of heavy rain this week to start off wet-season rainfall in central Brazil, the showers have dried up and are forecast to be very spotty through early October.

Producers in central Brazil await the start of the wet season, which usually occurs in late September. A front moving through next week may bring the widespread rainfall that many will use to start soybean planting.

Soil moisture is below normal in many of Brazil's safrinha corn growing areas. A drier outlook for April puts that corn crop at a higher risk of drought and damage.

A front has stalled out in central Brazil. Both it and a system coming up from the north will help produce widespread showers across the country through next week, which is useful for safrinha corn development. However, it does not appear enough to turn around a lack of soil...