South America Calling

By John Baranick
DTN Ag Meteorologist

In South America, the wet season has largely ended. The continent, save for northern Brazil, will be more dependent upon storm systems bringing precipitation than daily pop-up type showers.

For Argentina, corn is reaching maturity and harvest is progressing. As for soybeans, outside of the double-cropped varieties, they are looking for drier conditions for harvest. Conditions were good to do so with dry conditions early in the week of April 20.

However, a slow-moving storm system April 23-26 will soak the country with 50-100 millimeters (2-4 inches) of precipitation, with locally heavier amounts. This will lead to harvest delays and concern about quality.

The storm system that affects Argentina will largely miss Brazil. Far southern Brazil, where rainfall deficits continue to be around 80% of normal, may receive some toward the week of April 27, but even then it would be only in a small area. This region has seen significant damage to both corn and soybeans, which are still maturing.

Central Brazil, which has planted corn and cotton, has also been rather dry recently, and looks to continue for the next week. Precipitation deficits during the last 30 days are around 40-80% below normal and will be a concern for the development of both crops. Some signs of stress are beginning to show in the satellite images coming from the region.

Northern Brazil, by contrast, will continue to see periods of scattered showers during the next week, where field conditions are quite favorable for the developing corn and cotton.

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

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