DTN Market Impact Weather

OMAHA (DTN) -- Showers crossing the Midwest and heavy rain prospects in Russia wheat harvest areas are the key weather items for the commodity trade's attention Wednesday.

SHOWERS TO CROSS MIDWEST

The DTN ag weather forecast calls for showers and thunderstorms to cross the Midwest over the balance of the week. This pattern is generally favorable to crops. Heat and dryness in some western areas has already caused a reduction in corn yield prospects, however.

HOT AND DRY IN SOUTHERN PLAINS

Southern Plains crop areas will be mainly dry and hot through the end of the week. Stress to corn, soybeans, sorghum and hay will be noted. Pastures and water areas for livestock are also declining.

STRESSFUL WEST TEXAS HEAT

West Texas cotton areas continue with stressful heat and dryness through the rest of the week. Daytime high temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius) will be common.

SHARP NORTHERN PLAINS DIFFERENCE

Northern Plains crop areas have a sharp difference in conditions. The eastern portion of the region, especially North Dakota and Minnesota, has crops in mostly good-to-excellent condition. Additional showers are forecast through the end of the week. Montana, however, is dry and hotter, with increasing stress to spring wheat along with pastures and hay.

VARIABLE PRAIRIES FORECAST

A variable rainfall forecast is in effect for the Canadian Prairies. Eastern sectors will have periods of showers and favorable crop conditions. Western areas will be drier with potential stress to crops. Western areas have had notably less rain this season already.

LATE RAIN IN RUSSIA

In the Black Sea region, Russia is in line for moderate to heavy rain over the next week. This rain is poorly timed for wheat harvest, and will likely result in quality loss and possible actual crop loss. Russia's wheat crop is already projected to be lower than the past two seasons. Elsewhere, recent heavy rainfall has improved prospects for sugar beets in western and northern Ukraine through Belarus.

CONTINUED NORTHEAST CHINA SHOWERS

Northeast China has scattered thunderstorms and near- to above-normal temperatures through the end of the week, mostly favoring crops.

HOT IN CENTRAL CHINA

Central China has a dry and hot pattern in effect for the balance of this week. Areas that have received recently lighter rainfall may have crop stress developing.

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

Follow Bryce Anderson on Twitter @BAndersonDTN

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