South America Calling

With all the discussion about Brazil and the wild swings in weather that have occurred there this growing season, Argentina continues to quietly have very good growing conditions.

Brazil's rough weather during the first half of the soybean growing season has led to concerns over production. But the second half of the season is much more favorable once the current dry stretch is over. Argentina continues to have favorable conditions and forecasts as...

When reports from other countries are not always as complete as those in the U.S. or Canada, the use of satellites can fill in the gaps. However, using these images over places with frequent cloud cover can limit their effectiveness.

The rainfall pattern across South America has been typical of El Nino, but that has been taken to the extremes so far. Here's a closer look at what has been happening and how it has affected South American crops.

While it has been dry in the most productive areas of Brazil for the start of the wet season, there is some indication rain will increase at the end of October heading into November.

The average date for the start to the rainy or wet season in central Brazil is around Sept. 26. Are those rains going to be delayed?

Some showers over the next week will not hamper much progress for soybean planting in Brazil next week.

The weather pattern has been more active thanks to El Nino across most of South America, but the heavy rain in southern Brazil has led to flooding concerns as spring planting begins.

With the turn to September, the spring planting season is in sight for South America. El Nino will be the biggest influence on the weather pattern for the next several months, and producers down there are likely to be happy about it.

A front moving into central Brazil will stall. Model forecasts vary, but suggest a high probability of early rainfall well ahead of the primary wet season.

The safrinha (second-crop) corn harvest in Brazil is in full swing for some states while others still lag behind. This week's forecast shows a much different temperature trend from last week in southern Brazil; however, additional rain chances remain in the forecast through...

Late-planted safrinha corn in south-central Brazil is still in the pollination and fill stages of growth, which make it vulnerable to frost damage, and significantly in some areas. A cold front that moves into the country this weekend will bring some very cold weather with it, which...

The wet season is officially over and safrinha corn in central Brazil is facing dryness for the next week and likely beyond. However, this is typical for this time of year.

Mato Grosso, Brazil, Gov. Mauro Mendes Ferreira spoke Monday at the Water for Food conference in Lincoln hosted by the University of Nebraska. Officials in Nebraska had hosted Mendes and other Brazilian officials last year to begin opening a dialogue on irrigation development in...

Wheat growing areas in South America are beginning to plant their 2023 crop, but are doing so in poor soil moisture across much of the region. Additional rain is needed and building El Nino conditions may supply some better rain chances in the second half of May.

Though there were fears about a shortened wet season in Brazil due to the waning influence of La Nina and delayed plantings, the region escaped with overall good rainfall. Next up will be a watch on temperatures and potential for frost.

After two weeks of isolated rain in central Brazil, a system moving through the country is bringing some briefly beneficial rain before going isolated again next week. The country will rely on weather systems for its rain for the next several weeks.

After some delayed planting for safrinha corn, Mother Nature is not helping out by reducing rains across central Brazil going into and through April.

With Argentina's crop production almost set, the focus in South America is for Brazil's safrinha corn crop, which may go through some significant challenges this season.

Looking from above can give us an idea about how Brazil's agricultural progress is going at this time of year.