Commodities Market Impact Weather: Stressful Dryness in Brazil

  OMAHA  -  Dry-weather stress in Brazil soybean areas and beneficial snow cover for the Southern

Plains wheat areas are the primary weather items for the commodity trade's attention Tuesday.

COLD AND SNOW IN MIDWEST

  The DTN ag weather forecast calls for more below-normal temperatures during the next week in the

Midwest. Damage to soft red winter wheat, however, appears to be limited due to additional snowfall

in the region. Areas that receive ice rather than snow may have some potential damage.

SNOW COVER FOR SOUTHERN PLAINS

  Southern Plains wheat areas will have well-below-normal temperatures during this week, with lows

dropping significantly below zero Fahrenheit in north and central growing areas. However, snow will

precede the lowest of the temperatures, which should protect the crop from harm. Feedlots in

southwest Kansas will see episodes of snow and cold weather during the week, which increases stress

to livestock.

HEAT STRESSES BRAZIL SOYBEANS

  In Brazil soybean areas, a hot and dry pattern continues during the next seven days at least. This

will deplete soil moisture and increase crop stress. This situation bears watching. Drier weather in

the northernmost corn and soybean areas will mostly favor early harvesting while soil moisture

supports late-filling crops. An exception to this is in the Sao Paulo area where dryness may affect

filling crops.

CONTINUED HOT AND DRY IN BRAZIL COFFEE AREAS

  Brazil coffee and sugarcane areas will see temperatures average above normal and rainfall below

normal during the next seven days. This likely will increase stress to coffee trees and developing

sugarcane during this period.

VARIABLE RAIN FOR CENTRAL ARGENTINA

  In central Argentina, episodes of scattered showers and thunderstorms during the next seven days

and no severe heat will favor pollinating corn and developing soybeans. However, the heavy nature of

these storms may mean local flooding. Sunflower areas of La Pampa and southwest Buenos Aires look

drier during this period.

STEADY WARMING TREND FOR UKRAINE

  The cold high pressure system that brought subzero F readings to many wheat areas last week

appears to be weakening. It is still cold but not as cold as it was late last week. Temperatures

gradually moderate during the week.

ADDITIONAL RAINFALL IN SOUTH AFRICA

  Moderate to locally heavy showers and thunderstorms continued during the weekend in South Africa.

This should maintain adequate to surplus soil moisture for maize and improve conditions for

sugarcane after earlier dryness. Local flooding may occur with the storms in the maize growing

areas.