Market Impact Weather

OMAHA (DTN) -- A continued wide variance in Midwest forecast conditions, and mild temperatures with rain for the Southern Plains, are the key weather items for the commodity trade's attention Friday.

VARIABLE MIDWEST CONDITIONS

The DTN ag weather forecast calls for a sharp contrast in fieldwork and planting prospects across the Midwest. Rain this week and colder temperatures this weekend should lead to planting delays in the eastern areas. The eastern Midwest cold will slow germination and early development of recently planted crops and development of winter wheat. Western areas will be drier and warmer, with a much better scenario for planting and early crop growth.

MILD WITH SHOWERS IN SOUTHERN PLAINS

In the Southern Plains, mostly dry and warm weather will improve conditions for winter wheat and for planting and development of spring grains during the next five days. A return to wetter and cooler conditions follows this period. This should maintain favorable conditions for developing crops but may again slow fieldwork.

DRY WEEKEND FOR DELTA

The Delta will have a generally dry weekend. Temperatures will trend warmer as well. This will be favorable for flood easing along with improving crop conditions for wheat and corn, while allowing for more progress in planting soybeans and cotton.

WARMER AND DRIER FOR NORTHERN PLAINS

A turn to drier and warmer weather in the northern Plains during this week is promising. This should help improve conditions for planting, especially in the west. Showers develop in the west during the weekend and through central and east areas early next week, but more dry weather should follow this system.

DRIER IN CANADIAN PRAIRIES

In the Canadian Prairies, light to moderate showers with isolated heavier are possible during the Sunday-Monday time frame. Temperatures will be warm or very warm, along with a dry pattern, ahead of this system with cooler conditions to follow. Western and northwestern areas, specifically northern Alberta and northwest Saskatchewan that have been very wet this spring, are likely to see improved field conditions due to the precipitation pattern avoiding these locales.

VARIABLE BRAZIL RAIN FORECAST

Light to moderate rain is indicated through the weekend in south-central Brazil. This round of moisture will favor the second-crop corn, which is more than half pollinated. A drier trend is indicated farther north, and will bear watching for possible later-season dryness in Mato Grosso and Goias. Dryness is not an issue in those large production areas at this time, however.

ARGENTINA WEEKEND RAIN

In Argentina, rain this weekend and again later next week may lead to delays in the harvest of corn and soybeans in the central growing belt. Harvest is progressing a few percentage points ahead of last year. Planting of winter wheat following the summer crop harvests may also be delayed. Favorable conditions are in effect for planting and early development of winter wheat through the major growing areas of Buenos Aires and La Pampa.

LIGHT UKRAINE SHOWERS

Light rain is indicated for Ukraine through the weekend. This does not appear to be enough to significantly ease a dry pattern that has developed in the northern portion of the country. The north-central portion of Ukraine has received only 25 to 50 percent of normal rainfall over the past 60 days. This dryness leaves soil moisture in short supply for corn and sunflower planting and emergence.

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

(CZ)

Copyright 2017 DTN/The Progressive Farmer. All rights reserved.