WORLD AGRICULTURAL WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS

July 12, 1999

UNITED STATES: In June, frequent heavy rainfall disrupted winter wheat harvesting on the central and southern Plains until month's end, when warmer, drier air overspread the region. In the Southeast, widespread rains improved soil moisture and stabilized crop conditions. In contrast, drought worsened from the Mid-Atlantic region into southern New England. Drought also continued to adversely affect dryland crops in the interior Northwest, where late-June showers provided only localized relief. Across the northern Plains and western Corn Belt, showers and thunderstorms maintained adequate to locally surplus soil moisture for developing summer crops. Meanwhile in the easternmost Corn Belt, warm and often dry weather reduced soil moisture to unfavorable levels, although late-month rains benefited corn and soybeans.

CANADA: Persistent spring wetness lingered into early June, preventing late grain and oilseed planting over sections of the southeastern Prairies. By July, warmer weather was needed to accelerate the pace of crop growth to more normal levels. In eastern Canada, conditions were generally favorable for corn and soybean growth, although periodic wet weather raised concerns for disease potential in winter wheat. .

SOUTH AMERICA: In Buenos Aires, Argentina, below-normal June rainfall aided late summer crop harvesting, but reduced topsoil moisture for winter wheat development. Adequate topsoil moisture existed elsewhere in central Argentina. In southern Brazil, near- to above-normal rainfall favored winter wheat establishment, but slowed coffee and citrus harvesting in Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais.

EUROPE: Very dry weather stressed unirrigated spring-sown crops on the Iberian peninsula and in Greece and Bulgaria. Near-normal precipitation and temperatures favored filling winter grains and emerging spring-sown crops in England and most of central Europe. Frequent rains in Scandinavia, eastern Europe, and Italy benefited corn and sugar beets but delayed the onset of winter wheat and barley harvesting.

FSU-WESTERN: In June, hot, dry weather in Russia and Ukraine adversely affected winter and spring grains and worsened conditions for summer crops. Showers and cooler weather in late June and early July stabilized conditions for spring grains but came too late to help maturing winter grains. Recently, hot dry weather returned to the region, increasing stress on summer crops in or nearing reproduction.

FSU-NEWLANDS: Above-normal precipitation in June provided favorable moisture conditions for spring grain development in Russia and Kazakstan. However, unseasonably cool weather in June slowed crop development. Since early July, dry weather accompanied a warming trend in Russia and Kazakstan as crops approached the highly weather-sensitive reproductive phase of development.

SOUTH ASIA: The southwest monsoon progressed normally during the month of June, bringing beneficial planting rains to important grain, oilseed, cotton, and sugarcane areas of India and Bangladesh. In early July, a break in the pattern brought warmer and drier weather to central India, reducing moisture reserves for emerging oilseeds. Flooding has been a problem locally in the eastern rice belt.

EASTERN ASIA: During June, mostly below-normal rainfall favored winter wheat maturation and harvesting in the North China Plain. Variable June rainfall favored spring wheat in Manchuria, but some dry pockets persisted into early July stressing summer crops. Rain is needed in Manchuria to ensure favorable crop prospects. During late June and early July, very heavy showers caused flooding and possible rice damage in the eastern Yangtze Valley. Near- to above-normal rainfall favored rice in South Korea and Japan, but below-normal June rainfall stressed summer crops in North Korea.

SOUTHEAST ASIA: Below-normal June rainfall in west-central Thailand reduced moisture for corn development. Near- to above-normal rainfall maintained moisture supplies for rice in eastern Thailand, northern and southern Vietnam, and the Philippines. Seasonal showers favored oil palm in peninsular Malaysia and second-crop rice in Java, Indonesia.

AUSTRALIA: n early June, much-needed rain broke a dry spell in the winter crop areas of Queensland and New South Wales, improving planting prospects. Scattered showers have maintained adequate moisture reserves in Western Australia and most of the southeast, although dry pockets persist in wheat and barley areas of Victoria and South Australia. .