Rains in the US and Brazil improve conditions for planting and crop development

Traders’ attention shifts from the weather in South America to the countries of the Northern Hemisphere, where the sowing of spring crops begins. In the USA and Europe, there have been abundant precipitations, while in Ukraine and the south-west of the Russian Federation there is a moisture deficit, although the weather is generally favorable for sowing.

The Midwest and the Central and Southern Plains of the United States experienced heavy rain this week and will continue through the weekend. Warmer temperatures and additional rainfall next week will accelerate the planting of spring crops and improve the condition of the winter wheat crop, which is now almost twice as good as last year. Analysts hope April’s favorable weather will allow more than the 90 million acres projected by the USDA in its latest report to be planted in corn.

In northern and central Brazil, rains are replenishing moisture and improving the condition of second-crop corn crops, which have already been planted. Next week, the cyclone will bring long-awaited rains to the southern states, including Paraná, but their amount will not be enough to restore soil moisture reserves ahead of the dry season. The Datagro agency lowered its forecast for soybean harvest in Brazil in 2023/24 MY by 1 to 146.3 million tons, although it left the forecast for corn production at 114.9 million tons.

Intermittent rains are helping crops grow in Argentina, but rainfall will decrease next week, allowing soybean and corn harvest to accelerate. Soybean and corn production forecasts are almost double last year’s figures.

Rains continue in the west and north of Europe, improving the condition of winter crops and replenishing moisture reserves (especially in Spain), but delaying the sowing of spring crops, especially in France. Temperatures will rise next week and rainfall intensity will decrease, which will allow sowing to be accelerated.

In Ukraine, there is still a deficit of precipitation, but the decrease in air temperature reduces the loss of moisture, which allows sowing of spring crops. Intermittent rain will pass over the weekend and early next week, and temperatures will rise, which will speed up planting.

Currently, winter crops in Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Russia are mostly in good to excellent condition.

Tags: Brazil, USA, crop condition