Commodities Market Impact Weather: Cool Outlook for Midwest

OMAHA--Cool weather for the Midwest, dry conditions for the Central and Southern Plains, some

heavy rains in South America are the primary weather items for the commodity trade's attention

Monday.

COOL OUTLOOK FOR MIDWEST

  The DTN ag weather forecast calls for episodes of cool and sometimes very cool weather will slow

soils from warming up and limit the potential for early spring fieldwork during the next 10 days.

Precipitation chances appear limited during this time.

DRY FOR SOUTHERN PLAINS

  Little rainfall is expected through the dry western growing areas during the next 10 days.

Concerns for this portion of the crop will increase as we move further into the spring if rainfall

doesn't improve. The weekend rain helped ease dryness somewhat where it fell, but this is only a

small part of the wheat belt.

THUNDERSTORMS IN SOUTHERN BRAZIL

  Soil moisture for second-crop corn, late-filling soybeans and late-filling early corn is adequate

to surplus at this time. Thunderstorms in Rio Grande do Sul later during the weekend or early this

week may favor late-filling crops but would be unfavorable for early maturing varieties. Somewhat

drier, warmer weather elsewhere in the region will favor mature crops and harvest activities.

DRY, HOT IN BRAZIL COFFEE AREAS

  The main growing areas will likely see little rainfall and above-normal temperatures during the

next five to seven days. This continues the summer pattern of stress on developing crops due to

below-normal rains and above-average temperatures.

HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS IN ARGENTINA

  Heavy thunderstorms hit key growing areas of Cordoba, Sante Fe and Buenos Aires late last week and

early in the weekend. This will maintain adequate to surplus soil moisture for filling crops, but

may be unfavorable for early maturing crops and any harvesting. Local flooding is likely.

MUCH WARMER WEATHER AHEAD FOR UKRAINE

  A below-normal precipitation pattern and above-normal temperature pattern during the winter left

much of the region in need of early spring rains. The warm weather forced winter grains out of

dormancy much earlier than normal. The region has had rainfall of 0.12 to 0.51 inch (3 to 13

millimeters) during the weekend as temperatures turned somewhat lower. It should continue cool early

this week before turning much warmer again at the end of the week.

FAVORABLE MOISTURE IN CHINA

  There has been normal to above-normal rainfall from the central North China Plain southward to the

rice belt since early February. This provides favorable moisture for winter wheat, winter rapeseed,

rice and sugarcane areas. More rain is needed through the northern NCP, but this isn't that unusual

for early March. Early corn planted south of the Yangtze River will also benefit from the added

rains.

WARMER, DRIER IN SOUTH AFRICA

  A period of warmer, drier weather will favor early maturing maize through the eastern areas during

the next three to five days. Recent rains have improved conditions for later-planted maize through

the western growing belt. Recent rains have mostly favored sugarcane in the east, except in areas of

local flooding.