Commodities Market Impact Weather

Fieldwork Increasing With Good Weather

John Baranick
By  John Baranick , DTN Meteorologist

OMAHA, NE (DTN) -- Several warm and dry days in the U.S., snowmelt in the Northern Plains, and rains in central Brazil are the weather factors driving the markets Tuesday.

QUIETER, WARMER MIDWEST NEXT FEW DAYS

Dryness and rising temperatures in the Midwest over the last several days are favorable for spring fieldwork. Snowpack in the north continues to melt. A system will bring a few waves of showers through the region later this week and weekend. A burst of colder air will move through behind the system, stalling progress. Temperatures will be more on a seesaw, rising again next week.

LIMITED SHOWERS FOR CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PLAINS

A disturbance went through the Central and Southern Plains Sunday and Monday and brought scattered showers, including across the Texas Panhandle with some very spotty areas of heavier rain. Most of the drought areas remained dry, but some have gotten needed rains. Additional showers may develop across the area Thursday and maybe Friday as a system moves approaches. Again, showers are likely to be spotty, but could be significant in some areas. A stronger burst is possible Friday into Saturday, mostly for northern areas. Otherwise, dry conditions remain a concern for winter wheat. The system this week could bring some strong winds, which would be unfavorable for all locations, and especially those that do get rain, as it would sap that moisture right out.

SNOWPACK MELTING IN NORTHERN PLAINS AND CANADIAN PRAIRIES

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Above-normal temperatures are melting the snowpack in the Northern Plains and Canadian Prairies, causing flooding in some areas. The warmth will not last all that long, with a shot of colder air moving through behind a system later this week and weekend. Scattered, mixed precipitation will be moving through during the temperature change. Another warm period is likely to move in by the middle of next week, which will increase the melting of the snowpack again. Even during the period will cooler temperatures, a high sun angle and clear skies will continue the melting, just at a slower pace. Though flooding is not favorable, the high amounts of water locked in the snowpack need to be released and worked through the system before fieldwork can start. The sooner the better for on-time planting.

DELTA GETTING MORE RAIN

Showers will be unlikely in the Delta for the front half of the week, but will increase with a system in the Gulf of Mexico for the end of the week and another front moves through on Saturday. Many areas are fairly wet from recent rainfall, limiting fieldwork and planting. Precipitation is becoming less frequent, but still steady through the rest of April, which may cause some areas that are too wet, while others will find the proper conditions to get out into the field.

ANOTHER SYSTEM MOVING THROUGH CENTRAL BRAZIL LATE WEEK

Showers continue over central Brazil early this week. Another system will move north from Argentina late this week and weekend with another increase in showers. Overall, systems are providing adequate moisture for developing safrinha corn though wet season showers are diminishing. This pattern will need to be maintained for the late-planted crop.

SCATTERED SHOWERS FOR ARGENTINA

A system will move through Argentina with scattered showers through Thursday but be more isolated over the main growing region. Soil moisture has improved recently, but crop conditions are still poor due to heat and drought over the summer. Systems are coming at a more frequent pace, which may help to condition soil prior to winter wheat planting by the end of the month.

GOOD GROWING CONDITIONS FOR MOST OF EUROPE

Some showers and cooler weather in Europe over the weekend helped to improve soil moisture for winter wheat areas outside of Spain and Italy where soil moisture continues to be poor. A couple of systems will move through this week. Italy will see improved chances for rain, but Spain will likely miss out on most of it. Other areas of the continent will continue to see mostly good conditions. It may make it more difficult for early corn planting.

FAVORABLE WEATHER PATTERN FOR THE BLACK SEA

Periods of showers fell in the Black Sea region over the weekend and will continue to move through the region for the next week, with mild temperatures. Overall, growing conditions are mostly favorable across the region. Some areas may be too wet and cool to plant corn, however.

John Baranick can be reached at john.baranick@dtn.com

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John Baranick