DTN Market Impact Weather

OMAHA (DTN) -- Continued rain delays for some areas of the Midwest, and a better chance for rain in the Southern Plains, are the key weather items for the commodity trade's attention Friday.

VARIABLE MIDWEST FORECAST

The DTN ag weather forecast calls for no significant concerns for planting progress in south and east-central areas of the Midwest after recent dry and warm weather. Rains to the north and west will continue to slow down and delay planting.

MORE RAIN NEEDED FOR SW PLAINS

Increasing showers through central and northeast areas of the Central and Southern Plains during the next five to seven days will help improve conditions for developing winter wheat and early planted summer crops. A few thundershowers in the drought areas of the west and southwest will be favorable, but more rain is needed to end the drought. Above-normal temperatures continue during the next 10 days, increasing the need for rain to help ease stress to wheat.

MIXED NORTHERN PLAINS FORECAST

In the Northern Plains, a recent turn to warmer weather will help improve soil temperatures and encourage planting this week. The weather has turned much cooler, and this should last into Saturday morning before it turns warmer again. Much of North Dakota and northern Minnesota remains dry during the next seven days.

DRY IN DELTA

The Delta region has favorable conditions for planting and developing corn and soybeans, although soils are drying out under an above-normal temperature pattern. Showers may finally return to the Delta later in the period. In the southeast U.S., rains will likely arrive sooner and will be heavier.

COOLER AHEAD FOR PRAIRIES

A warming trend during the weekend continues into Monday for the Canadian Prairies, but there appears to be additional cool weather after that. There is no significant rainfall in the forecast during the next seven days. Dry weather and the recent warmer weather will support more planting of spring wheat and canola. The dry pattern may become a concern as we move further into spring and early summer.

HOT, DRY IN CENTRAL BRAZIL

Brazil's central crop areas will have hot, dry weather that depletes soil moisture and increases stress to pollinating and filling second-crop (safrinha) corn. Crop losses are expected.

CHINA MOISTURE WATCH

Drier conditions with warmer to somewhat hot weather in northeastern China are favorable for row-crop planting and germination. Rainfall will be needed, however, to ensure favorable early development in the weeks ahead, especially over Jilin and Liaoning provinces, where April rains were well-below normal. These areas produce more corn than soybeans. Key soybean areas of Heilongjiang had significant April rains.

Major rapeseed growing areas and the southern portion of the winter wheat belt in China had rain during the weekend, favoring reproductive to filling crops. Northern areas where drier, especially northwest areas. The weather was warm to somewhat hot. A more favorable weather pattern for winter crops in the region, although dryness may be of some concern in some northern areas.

AUSTRALIA SEES DRYNESS IN WEST

Planting season for wheat in Australia nears with some early planting in central Queensland. Dryness is of increasing concern in western and southeast areas. Showers at the end of last week have provided a welcome boost to soil moisture in southern South Australia and in Victoria, but more rain is still needed. Key growing areas of Western Australia remain fairly dry.

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

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