December 19, 2006

Good moisture to promote spring wheat growth in US, Argentina, Brazil

The bulk of the US wheat belt should have sufficient soil moisture for early spring growth in March, with mild conditions likely for both the Plains and Midwest winter wheat areas for the heart of the winter, said agricultural forecasters from Earth Satellite's Cropcast in a monthly long-range outlook.

The mild temperatures do not preclude any winterkill threats but should limit occurrences, said Cropcast. Meanwhile, wheat crops in the Plains will see limited precipitation in the next three months, but key rains will occur in April and May, Cropcast forecasts.

Cropcast's projections also said the extended forecast for the Midwest shows near-to-below normal rains in the next three months, but this will have little impact on planting conditions in the spring.

Meanwhile, Argentine crop areas are forecast to see near-to-below normal temperatures and mostly normal rains in the next three months. The pattern will help maintain the mostly adequate moisture that is currently across the corn and soybean belt during key pollination and flowering periods, Cropcast said.

The weather pattern for corn and soybean areas in Brazil looks favourably rainy for crop development and this should support near-to-above average yield potential during key reproductive months, according to Cropcast.