DTN Market Impact Weather

OMAHA (DTN) -- Varied conditions for Midwest planting, and more dryness in central Brazil, are the key weather items for the commodity trade's attention Friday.

VARIABLE MIDWEST FORECAST

The DTN ag weather forecast calls for favorable planting conditions in the southern and eastern portions of the Midwest. Rainfall that occurred this week will slow fieldwork and planting, for a time. Showers next week do not look as heavy and there may be opportunities for planting. Overall, a near- to above-normal rainfall pattern continues. Slow progress is still indicated in the north-central sector of the region due to wetter soils and expected additional precipitation.

MORE SOUTHERN PLAINS DRYNESS

In the Southern Plains, drought areas of western Kansas, southeastern Colorado, western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle missed out on rainfall during the past week, with wheat continuing under stress. Little rainfall is forecast during the next 10 days.

IMPROVING NORTHERN PLAINS CONDITIONS

Across the Northern Plains, drier and warmer weather during the coming days should help to improve conditions for planting. As we move forward dryness may become more of an issue, especially over North Dakota. Showers early next week may help some of North Dakota, but much more widespread rain is needed.

FAVORABLE DELTA TREND

In the Delta, continued warm and dry weather through the weekend is favorable for planting and crop development.

DRY AND WARM IN PRAIRIES

Canadian Prairies crop areas will be very warm and dry through the weekend. This pattern will allow for fieldwork progress. However, dryness is a concern over much of the region. Long-range outlooks suggest that this drier pattern might continue through the rest of the spring into early summer.

BRAZIL STAYS DRY

Brazil's central crop areas continue with a dry trend. Little to no rainfall is expected this week. Dryness is likely to result in reduced production of second-crop corn (safrinha) of close to 20% compared with a year ago.

DRY NORTHEAST CHINA TREND

Northeast China row crop areas have mostly dry conditions with above-normal temperatures. This pattern is favorable for planting and crop germination at this point in the season. Soil moisture is generally adequate except for some drier conditions in western areas.

SCATTERED AUSTRALIA SHOWERS

In the major wheat areas of Australia, planting has begun in central Queensland. Dryness is of increasing concern in Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. Showers at the end of this week have provided a welcome boost to soil moisture in southern South Australia and in Victoria, but more rain is still needed.

RUSSIA HEAT

Wheat areas of southern Russia and Ukraine have a very warm and dry pattern in effect. Temperatures in the mid-80s Fahrenheit, about 20 degrees F above normal, have been widespread. The extreme warmth, along with dry conditions, is stressful to reproductive wheat.

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

Follow Bryce Anderson on Twitter @BAndersonDTN

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