WORLD AGRICULTURAL WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS

July 12, 2000

UNITED STATES: During June, frequent showers soaked areas from the southern and eastern Plains into the Midwest and Northeast, maintaining adequate to locally surplus soil moisture for summer crop development. In addition, Corn Belt temperatures remained at or below 90 degrees F, except for a brief period in early June, further aiding corn and soybeans. Although cool, wet conditions significantly eased long-term moisture deficits in the southwestern Corn Belt, dry, occasionally hot weather brought drought intensification to the central and northern High Plains. In the South, soil moisture remained generally adequate from the Delta westward. In the Southeast, however, mid- to late-month showers aided pastures and summer crops, but provided little relief from long-term drought. In California, favorably warm, dry weather followed early-month showers. Much of the interior Northwest remained dry throughout the month, promoting winter wheat maturation.

CANADA: In early July, soaking rain caused ponding and local lodging in the southeastern Prairies. In contrast, rain is needed in southern Alberta as spring grains and oilseeds approach reproduction. Frequent rain has kept winter wheat and summer crops in Ontario unfavorably wet.

SOUTH AMERICA: In southern Brazil, widespread near- to slightly above-normal June rainfall boosted soil moisture for winter wheat development. In central Argentina, above-normal rainfall increased soil moisture for winter wheat planting, but slowed wheat planting in eastern Buenos Aires. Elsewhere, near- to slightly below-normal rainfall allowed wheat planting to progress. In Uruguay, above-normal rainfall continued to alleviate long-term moisture deficits. In central Chile, much-above-normal rainfall boosted moisture supplies, but caused flooding.

EUROPE: During June, below-normal precipitation fell across much of Europe, helping winter grain harvesting in the south and maturation elsewhere. In early July, however, rainfall hampered winter crop dry-down in northwestern Europe, but favored summer crop development. In southeastern Europe, prolonged dryness intensified drought, stressing vegetative summer crops. An untimely heat wave in early July exacerbated the drought in the southeast, stressing summer crops entering reproduction.

FSU-WESTERN: Showers and cooler weather since mid-June improved growing conditions for drought-stressed spring-sown crops in Ukraine, but arrived too late to boost prospects for maturing winter wheat. In Russia, rain in mid-June soaked key winter and spring grain producing areas, benefiting winter grains in the filling stage and spring-sown crops in the vegetative stage. Drought continued to worsen in Moldova.

FSU-NEW LANDS: Near- to above-normal precipitation in June provided favorable moisture conditions for spring grain development in Russia and Kazakstan. Hot weather overspread central growing areas in Russia in early July, increasing stress on spring grains.

MIDDLE EAST AND TURKEY: Above-normal temperatures across Turkey aided winter wheat dry-down and harvesting, but also increased irrigation demands of summer crops such as cotton.

SOUTH ASIA: Monsoon showers reached previously dry sections of central India in early July, improving oilseed and cotton prospects. A drying trend brought some relief to flooded rice areas of eastern India and Bangladesh.

EASTERN ASIA: In the North China Plain, inconsistent early-June rainfall stressed summer crops, but favored winter wheat harvesting. Late-June rainfall increased soil moisture, but timely rain will be needed for the rest of the season to ensure normal yield potentials. In Manchuria and North Korea, drought stressed spring-sown crops. Across the Yangtze Valley and Sichuan Basin, above-normal rainfall boosted soil moisture for rice and summer crops. In extreme southern China, below-normal rainfall reduced moisture supplies for rice, but the sunny weather favored rice development. Near-normal rainfall and above-normal temperatures provided favorable growing conditions for rice across South Korea and Japan.

SOUTHEAST ASIA: During June, Thailand received above- normal rainfall, which increased moisture for main-season rice, but caused delays in second-season rice harvesting. Rainfall was near to below normal throughout Vietnam favoring winter-spring rice harvesting in the north. Conditions were drier in the Philippines, with rainfall being generally below normal. Above-normal rainfall throughout Indonesia benefited oil palm and second-season rice, but caused delays in main-season rice harvesting in Java, Indonesia.

AUSTRALIA: Scattered showers benefited emerging winter crops in Western Australia and the southeast.