Commodities Market Impact Weather: Extensive Drier Trend

  OMAHA--A week-long dry pattern for the central U.S., and an uncertain rainfall outlook in central

Brazil, are the primary weather items for the commodity trade's attention Friday.

DRY CENTRAL U.S. PATTERN

  The DTN ag weather forecast calls for drier conditions in the entire central U.S. during the next

week to 10 days. This pattern will favor field and crop drying along with harvest progress and

winter wheat planting in the Midwest and Delta, while maintaining favorable conditions for crop

activity in the Plains as well.

MORE EXTREME HEAT IN CENTRAL BRAZIL

  Extreme heat and mostly dry conditions remain in central Brazil for another week. This is highly

unfavorable for any early-planted soybeans and it likely discourages farmers from further planting

at this time. The longer-range outlook for the end of the 10-day period suggests some chance for

increasing showers in the region. If real, this would likely help bring temperatures closer to

normal. However, this is a fairly long-range outlook so its veracity is uncertain.

HOT WEEKEND FOR BRAZIL COFFEE BELT

  Brazil coffee and sugarcane areas continue with very hot and dry through Monday. This puts extreme

stress on any flowering coffee trees and development of recently-planted sugarcane. The longer-range

outlook calls for scattered light showers with isolated heavier next Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday

look drier again, but probably not as hot. The extended 10-day weather outlook shows some increase

in shower and thundershowers are possible. This is a fairly long-range outlook so its veracity is

uncertain.

BENEFICIAL RAINS IN BLACK SEA REGION

  Light to moderate showers with locally heavier intensity developed through southwest, central and

northeast Ukraine during the past 48 hours. A few showers have also moved into the Black Soils

region of Russia during the past 24 hours. A second area of light to moderate rain is expected to

develop over Crimea and head into North Caucasus Russia Friday. This area may see additional showers

during the weekend. Showers maintain more favorable growing conditions for winter grains while

causing some delays to the harvest of summer crops.

VARIABLE RAINFALL IN SOUTH AFRICA

  South Africa sugarcane areas along with eastern and northern maize areas had moderate to heavy

rainfall in the past two days. The rain will favor early development of the new sugarcane crop, but

there may be some field work delays. Showers in the eastern maize areas may encourage more planting.

However, western maize areas are still too dry for widespread planting to begin.