Favorable precipitation in the US, EU, Ukraine and the Russian Federation and dry weather in China and Australia will affect markets in the coming weeks

The Midwest and Plains regions of the United States received heavy rainfall last week, which helped with planting, crop development, and soil moisture accumulation. Excessive soil moisture is delaying planting in some areas, but overall planting rates are higher than last year. Cool temperatures in these areas are also helping with normal spring crop development.

Several cyclones will bring showers and scattered rain to the region early in the week, but temperatures will rise and precipitation will decrease in the second half of the week, allowing for the completion of spring crop planting.

In the Canadian prairies, weather conditions are favorable for spring crop planting, although last week there was heavy rainfall with a drop in temperatures, but there was no frost. This week, drier and warmer weather is forecast, allowing farmers to complete work by early June, and conditions in the region will remain mostly favorable for crop development.

In Brazil, a front will bring precipitation this week that will help the development of winter wheat crops in the south and second crop corn in the center. Harvesting of early safrinha corn is expected to begin in two to three weeks.

Favorable rains will occur over the weekend and early in the week in southern, northern and parts of eastern Europe , which will improve the situation in arid regions of France, Germany, and the UK. Overall, the condition of crops in the EU is better than last year.

Winter wheat growing areas in the Black Sea region have experienced heavy rains in recent weeks, reducing moisture deficits. But forecasts are calling for additional heavy rainfall in Ukraine and southwestern Russia this week, which should improve crop potential.

The sowing rates of spring crops in the Russian Federation exceed last year's (67% of the area sown), and in Ukraine they correspond to last year's level (94% of the planned area sown).

In Australia, showers passed through Western Australia and New South Wales last week, but some key wheat belt areas remain dry. A few fronts could bring showers to the country later in the month, but rainfall so far has been well below normal for this time of year, which is having a negative impact on winter wheat and canola crops.

Drought conditions in central China are stressing the wheat and rapeseed crops that are in the filling stage and could negatively affect some newly planted corn and soybeans. Little rainfall is forecast until late May and early June. In the north, soil moisture for corn and soybeans is better, but it has been very cold recently, which is likely to delay planting.