South America Calling

Drought conditions continue and deepen over most of the Southern Plains winter wheat belt.

It appears that spring will be cool and wet, leading to a poor start to spring fieldwork and early corn planting in the Midwest. Meanwhile, the next chance for any significant rain in Argentina will be later in the week.

La Nina hangs on -- and so does drought in Argentina and in the Southern Plains of the U.S.

Drought conditions in Argentina are putting severe stress on corn and soybean crops, especially late-planted fields.

Drought conditions continue in central Argentina, with no sign of the pattern ending.

USDA has contracted with a Texas university to examine Brazil's production and export potential in 2040. That study isn't completed, but the USDA Outlook Forum offered a preview of what it may forecast.

Drought conditions continue in central Argentina.

As expected, mid-February rain in Argentina offered only partial coverage for major crop areas.

Dry weather continues to stress corn and soybeans in central Argentina.

Scattered rain in central Argentina Thursday and Friday, February 8-9, was less beneficial than had been hoped.

Prospects for rain in dry areas of central Argentina during the Feb. 9-11 weekend will be closely watched.

The most crop-threatening weather this growing season has become established in central Argentina.

Weekend rainfall chances in Argentina look less promising.

Only light rain is forecast for the southern crop areas of South America through mid-January.

In a simple survey on a conference with more than 160 Mato Grosso farmers in Cuiaba, DTN found that most of the farmers believe their soybean crops are better than last year. Mato Grosso is generally responsible for about one-third of Brazil's entire soybean crop.

Dry conditions in Argentina's main crop areas have been noteworthy.

Generous rain in central Brazil so far makes up for a drier trend in southern Brazil and Argentina.

One of the reasons why global nitrogen prices rose in recent months is because China exported less urea in 2017. Meanwhile, Brazil's insatiable appetite for urea imports is also a big influence on what happens internationally.

Dry weather conditions have delayed soybean planting in Argentina, but are benefiting the wheat and barley harvest.

The U.S. and Australia have now both said a weak La Nina is in effect, with South America feeling the greatest impact.