Heavy rainfall in Brazil, dry conditions in Argentina and favorable winter weather in the US, India and China will have the biggest impact on grain prices in the coming weeks

Winter crop planting in the Northern Hemisphere has been completed in favorable weather conditions, so the focus will be on wintering conditions and rainfall. Soybean and corn plantings have been completed in South America, and traders are now monitoring rainfall on crops, which will affect crop formation.

Several fronts have passed through the Midwest and Plains of the United States this week, bringing cooling temperatures, snowfall and showers with gusts of Arctic air, raising concerns about the condition of crops that are not sufficiently covered by a layer of snow.

Fronts are moving towards Canada, where temperatures are expected to rise above freezing next week and additional precipitation is expected to replenish moisture reserves in winter crops.

Heavy rainfall in India has allowed a sharp increase in the area sown with winter crops, which creates good potential for a new harvest of wheat and other crops.

Despite prolonged rains in October that delayed the start of winter wheat sowing, sowing of winter wheat in most major growing regions in China is almost complete. Soil moisture remains sufficient and current weather conditions are conducive to crop development.

In central Brazil (the main soybean and corn growing region), there is a significant improvement in soil moisture thanks to the heavy rains that have occurred this week (50-70mm), which is helping the soybean crop to develop. A new wave of rains is expected next week, although of lower intensity. Another front will bring heavy showers to the south-central regions already this weekend and early next week.

Argentina has seen little rainfall this week, although soil moisture levels are still favorable for soybean, corn and sunflower crops in most of Argentina. Light rain is expected over the weekend, bringing temperatures down to 25-26 ^° C, but drier weather is forecast for next week, leaving some areas too dry for corn and soybean crops, which is already a concern.

In Australia, reduced rainfall is helping to produce high yields of winter wheat, barley and canola, but some areas are too dry for cotton and sorghum.

In Ukraine, lower temperatures and less precipitation were expected this week, which would allow for the completion of harvesting of late crops, but frosts and dry weather will only set in next week.

The condition of winter crops remains good, as the growing season is still ongoing in the south and plant condition has improved.