Market Impact Weather

OMAHA (DTN) -- Continued dryness concerns in Argentina's main crop areas and in the Southern Plains winter wheat area are the key weather items for the commodity trade's attention Thursday.

LITTLE RAIN FOR ARGENTINA

The DTN ag weather forecast calls for mostly dry weather in the major corn and soybean areas of Argentina to continue to stress filling corn and soybeans with crop losses occurring. There is not much rainfall forecast for the driest areas of Santa Fe during the next seven days.

MOSTLY FAVORABLE CONDITIONS IN BRAZIL

In central Brazil, it's a somewhat drier, warmer period for crop areas of Mato Grosso at this time, although a few scattered showers are possible at times. This should help improve conditions for harvesting soybeans and planting second-crop corn. Conditions in southern Brazil are mostly favorable for filling, maturing and early harvesting of soybeans.

DRY PATTERN IN SOUTHERN PLAINS

In the Southern Plains, the dry pattern is expected to continue during the next 10 days. More rain will be needed to support the wheat crop when it breaks dormancy. In the six- to 10-day outlook, temperatures are expected to average near to above normal, and precipitation near to mostly below normal. More rain will be needed to support the crop when it breaks dormancy.

STORMS TO AFFECT MIDWEST, NORTHERN PLAINS

Snow or rain changing to snow with increasing winds will affect transportation through the northeast part of the Midwest today or tonight. A second system has the potential to cause significant problems through the northeast Plains or the upper Midwest Monday.

HARSH COLD CONTINUES IN EUROPE

Ukraine and west Russia turned sharply colder late last week and during the weekend. Winter grain damage was likely minimal due to adequate snow cover. Ukraine and especially Russia has snow cover adequate to protect winter grains. A major snowstorm has also blanketed central and east Ukraine with a deep snow cover during the last two days. Well-below-normal cold has been over Germany, France and England early this week. Readings of 10 to 18 degrees Fahrenheit below normal have been reported. This does not appear to be cold enough to harm winter wheat. It may have more of an impact on unprotected winter rapeseed, however. The cold will moderate somewhat at the end of this week and this weekend.

DRIER FOR SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa has a somewhat drier period at this time, along with a warming trend. This will favor filling to early maturing crops in the east following prior heavy rains in the area. Soil moisture should support favorable development of reproductive to filling maize in western crop areas.

Elaine Shein can be reached at elaine.shein@dtn.com

(ES/)

Copyright 2018 DTN/The Progressive Farmer. All rights reserved.