Market Impact Weather

OMAHA (DTN) -- Flooding weekend rain in Argentina and showers disrupting Brazil harvest are the key weather items for the commodity trade's attention Tuesday.

VARIABLE MIDWEST FORECAST

The DTN ag weather forecast calls for mostly favorable conditions in the Midwest following a rain and ice storm during the past weekend. The moisture was favorable for soft red winter wheat. However, transportation delays and livestock stress occurred due to icing. Power outages also occurred in some areas due to the accumulation of ice on power lines.

VARIED SOUTHERN PLAINS STORM IMPACT

In the Southern Plains, a very significant precipitation event for this time of the year will recharge soil moisture, which will benefit the wheat crop in the spring. Icing in feedlots has been stressful to livestock. Other adverse effects include transportation disruptions and delays due to icing, along with widespread power outages due to the severe ice storm.

WARMER TREND FOR NORTHERN PLAINS

Across the Northern Plains, there are no significant problems during the next five days as temperatures turn warmer. Some light, freezing precipitation will cause delays in transportation.

SHOWERS FOR NORTHEAST BRAZIL

In Brazil, the northeast crop areas continue with promising rainfall chances through mid-next week. A round of hot and dry conditions is expected in southern areas during the weekend. This appears to be a short-lived trend with no stress to crops. Meanwhile, conditions are favorable for harvest progress in Mato Grosso.

WEEKEND ARGENTINA FLOODING

Heavy rains of 2 to 4 inches (50-100 millimeters) occurred in north-central Argentina over the past weekend. The rain caused more flooding and threatens to reduce planted area by several million acres. Meanwhile, continued dryness in southern crop areas will reduce production due to some acreage likely not getting planted.

MORE EUROPE COLD

The cold and sometimes very cold pattern over eastern and southern Europe continues. Recent extreme cold is reported to have caused some problems for unprotected winter grains in and around the Hungary area. Very cold conditions, relative to normal, may have also affected specialty crops such as olives and citrus in south Italy, Greece and east Mediterranean region. Cold weather during this week may also affect Spain.

BENEFICIAL UKRAINE SNOW COVER

Subzero (F) cold was reported in winter wheat areas of western Ukraine and Russia earlier this month, but it has warmed since then. Snow cover was of a light to locally moderate nature at the time of the coldest weather. This should have afforded some protection from the cold conditions. Since then, snow cover has improved further, and the crop should be well protected in the event of any new cold outbreaks.

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

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