Rainfall in North America delays harvest of late crops, but helps start of sowing in South America

The rates of corn and soybean harvest in the US are still higher than last year's, but heavy rainfall forecast for next week may slow down the harvest and increase grain moisture, which will also delay the arrival of grain to markets.

 

Over the next week, most of the Midwest and Plains of the United States will experience several waves of precipitation, which will negatively affect the ripening and drying of corn and soybeans, but on the other hand, will reduce the effects of drought in the southwest of the region and will contribute to the accumulation of moisture before sowing winter crops.

 

Harvest conditions are improving in the Canadian prairies, but the pace of harvest is still well behind schedule, supporting canola and rapeseed prices. Warm, dry weather this week has helped speed up operations, but recent rains have worsened wheat quality and increased the share of feed grains. Rain is forecast for Alberta over the weekend, while other growing areas are not expected to see rain until next week, disrupting harvests.

 

Farmers will need to harvest about half of their crop in the next two weeks. As of September 21, only 41% of the crop has been harvested in Saskatchewan (82% average), including just 26% of canola.

 

Rains fell in southern and some central regions of Brazil in early September, allowing the planting of corn and soybeans to begin at an optimal time. Forecasts of further rainfall suggest that the rainy season, which usually begins in the country in late September, has started on time this year.

 

It is predicted that several fronts with precipitation will pass through the country next week, which will contribute to an increase in corn and soybean planting areas, which may increase pressure on prices in the future.

 

Fronts moving from south to north have also brought rain to Argentina . They will have a positive impact on the winter wheat crops, which are in the filling stage, and will help accumulate moisture before the start of corn planting. A few more showers are expected next week, but cold weather will delay corn planting.

 

Dry and warm weather has set in across Europe , helping to complete the harvesting and sowing of winter crops, although in eastern regions there has been insufficient rainfall to support crop development. Next week, the forecast calls for warm weather with light rain, which will help with the harvesting of late crops.

 

Rainfall across Ukraine this week has halted the soybean and sunflower harvest, but has improved the condition of winter rapeseed and replenished moisture reserves ahead of winter wheat planting. Dry and warm weather is forecast for next week, which should help speed up harvests and increase grain supply.

 

Heavy rains are forecast in the southwest of the Russian Federation next week, which will facilitate the sowing of winter crops, but delay the harvesting of sunflower.

 

Western Australian regions continue to receive better rainfall than eastern areas, but overall the crop situation is improving, with wheat and canola production forecasts rising.

 

Central and northeastern China were mostly dry, which helped corn and soybean ripening and harvesting after a relatively mild season. Light rain is forecast for October, which could hamper harvest but will be beneficial for winter wheat and rapeseed planting in central China.