South America Calling

In South America, we may be seeing the beginning of the end of the summer rainy season in central Brazil. The outlook calls for dry conditions or just a few light showers with locally heavier amounts during the next seven days.

At this time, soil moisture conditions are adequate for second-crop corn, which is nearly all planted in Mato Grosso. In Parana where corn planting is only about 50% complete, this could become a problem if it continues. Dry weather in Rio Grande do Sul for at least the next seven days could stress late-filling soybeans.

Argentina's recent turn to hot and dry weather is expected to continue for at least the next seven days. This will deplete soil moisture and increase stress on filling corn and soybeans. This situation bears close watching as main crop soybeans are filling through March, with double-cropped soybeans filling through April.

Our latest calculation of the sea surface temperature in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean for the month of February was plus 0.6 degree Celsius above average. This was up from the 0.4 degree C above normal observed during the month of January and halts the downward trend that was observed between December and January.

Michael Palmerino can be reached at michael.palmerino@dtn.com

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