Canada Markets

DTN Ag Meteorologist Bryce Anderson recently tweeted that the Southern Oscillator Index readings not only suggest an El Nino event is taking place, but also "these dailies are in the same category as the big El Nino of 1997-1998."

So far, the event has not played a detrimental role in India. DTN forecasts on Monday suggest that the monsoon rains in India have now covered the country, as indicated in a June 26 data release by the India Meteorological Department, with monsoon coverage across the country normally seen by July 15.

This activity comes after a delayed start to the monsoon season while early this month the Indian government was discussing contingency plans due to an expected poor monsoon season which has been forecast to deliver only 88% of the long-term average rains, according to zeenews.india.com.

While the advanced stage of the monsoon has allowed for a jump in acres planted, with one report suggesting a record pulse area will have been seeded by the end of June, DTN forecasts suggest a weakening phase in the upcoming week, also described by Indian media as a lull or being subdued and may remain that way until mid-July. This situation will bear watching.

Over the weekend, the prime minister of India asked farmers to increase the country's pulse production, asking every farmer to "try and grow pulses on a part of his land."

Tuesday will see Statistics Canada release updated seeded acre estimates, with the acreage seeded to pulse crops likely to be higher than reported in March, although debate may remain more focused on the yield potential for the crop as the western prairies continues to face a critical lack of precipitation.

DTN 360 Poll

Have you sold cash grain for new-crop delivery in 2015? You can share your thoughts on DTN's 360 Poll found on your DTN Home Page.

Cliff Jamieson can be reached at cliff.jamieson@dtn.com

Follow Cliff Jamieson on Twitter @CliffJamieson

(ES)

© Copyright 2015 DTN/The Progressive Farmer. All rights reserved.