South America Calling

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.

Amidst forecast decreases in production for both corn and soybeans in Argentina from various sources, will there be any hope to improve conditions? Or will production forecasts fall again next month?

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

After a round of frost over the weekend and continued dry weather, crop conditions in Argentina fell again to historically bad levels.

With delays to planting and La Nina still in control, will the safrinha (second-crop) corn in Brazil have production issues?

Another round of rain late last week was beneficial for the corn and soybean crop in Argentina. However, the forecast for February is not favorable for continuing the upward trend.

After a burst of good rainfall late last week, corn and soybean conditions improved in Argentina. However, the underlying dryness concerns continue. More rain is falling this week and next. Will the crop continue to have a positive response?

A series of three cold fronts will move through Argentina through Jan. 28. Models are keen on producing widespread precipitation with each front. But will the rain work out as forecast and are crops too far gone to benefit?

Recent production estimates by the USDA, Rosario Grain Exchange, and Buenos Aires Grain Exchange all point to the effect of poor weather conditions in Argentina, the world's third-largest producer of soybeans, and fourth-largest producer of corn.

Temperatures across Argentina will rise during the next several days, pushing 40 degrees Celsius (more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit). With soils very dry and crops already in poor condition, the heat will continue to wilt the nation's corn and soybeans.

La Nina's control on South American weather continues with warmer and drier conditions continuing across far southern Brazil and Argentina. Crop health has been declining in recent weeks, even though showers have moved through from time to time.

A heatwave coming to Argentina next week will result in significant soil moisture losses and heat stress for developing corn and soybeans.

Rainfall through the first two-thirds of November has been well-below normal for most of South America's primary growing regions.

Rainfall in South America picked up a bit last week, but soil moisture in Argentina remains poor for developing corn and emerging soybeans.

Dry weather through the weekend and into early next week will give way to a brief period of widespread showers. But will the region turn dry again?