Market Impact Weather

OMAHA (DTN) -- High temperatures and little rainfall for a few more days in the Midwest, a mainly dry and hot pattern affecting soil moisture in the Southern Plains, and moderate to heavy rains later this week for the Northern Plains and Canadian Prairies, are the primary weather items for the commodity trade's attention Wednesday.

HIGH TEMPERATURES FOR MIDWEST

The DTN ag weather forecast calls for high temperatures and little rainfall in the Midwest to favor maturing crops during the next four to five days while maintaining high stress on late-filling crops, especially in areas where crops have shallow roots and are already in less-than-ideal condition. There is at least some chance for beneficial shower activity early in the six-to-10-day period.

DIMINISHING SOIL MOISTURE IN SOUTHERN PLAINS

In the Central and Southern Plains, mainly dry, hot weather will continue to stress late-filling summer crops while soil moisture for the next winter wheat crop continues to diminish during the next five to six days. Dry weather favors maturing crops and early harvesting. Longer-range charts are more uncertain as shower threats might increase for some areas.

DELTA HEAT STRETCHES ON

In the Delta, drier, warmer to hotter weather will favor maturing crops and harvests at this time. Late-filling crops may come under some stress, but it is getting a little too late for this to have a significant impact.

WET WEATHER FOR NORTHERN PLAINS

In the Northern Plains, no significant concerns for the spring wheat or oats harvest at this time. Wet weather at the end of this week will be unfavorable for maturing crops. Rainfall potential from scattered showers and thunderstorms Friday and Saturday appears to be 0.30 to 1.50 inches and locally heavier with the heaviest amounts likely occurring in northern areas.

UNFAVORABLE HEAVY RAINS AHEAD FOR PRAIRIES

In the Canadian Prairies, wet and then cooler weather is expected at the end of this week through early next week with possibly a few inches of rain in some places. This would be unfavorable for maturing crops and will likely delay harvest efforts. Frost may become possible in the northwest later in the period, but this is not unusual for this date. At this time, it isn't expected to be a season-ending freeze, but this pattern bears watching in the extended range.

NEEDED RAINS AHEAD FOR EUROPE

Hot, dry weather is now confined to southeast and east-central Europe.

This late-summer heat wave is sapping soil moisture for the winter grains and oilseeds crops and stressing any late-filling summer crops. This region will finally turn much cooler with at least some promise of needed rains within the next three to five days.

BENEFICIAL RAINS IN CHINA

A recent increase in rain and showers through northeast and central China will favor late-filling corn and soybean crops, especially after mid-summer dry and hotter weather. Rainfall over significant portions of the North China Plain during this week helps replenish soil moisture for winter wheat.

COOLER WEATHER AHEAD FOR UKRAINE

High temperatures reached 91 to 100 Fahrenheit (33 to 38 Celsius) across most of Ukraine, southern Belarus and Moldova as a late-season hot spell continues. This heatwave favors planting progress for winter grains and harvest activities for corn and sunflower, but it also increases stress to late-filling summer crops and reduces available soil moisture for early needs of the winter grains. West Ukraine and Belarus will turn much cooler during the coming days with some promise of needed showers. East Ukraine and south Russia have another two to three days of hot, dry weather before the chance for showers and cooler weather increases.

DRY, HOT WEEK AHEAD IN INDIA

It appears likely, at this time, that west-central, northwest and north-central India and Pakistan will remain drier and hotter during the next seven to 10 days. This may signal an early withdrawal of the monsoon from these locations. Crop areas of the northwest and north have received significant monsoon rains and should be in good shape. Crops grown in Gujarat and Maharashtra will see diminishing soil moisture and increasing stress to filling cotton and groundnut crops. The soybean belt has seen a few scattered showers since last week and it is good shape.

Elaine Shein can be reached at elaine.shein@dtn.com

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