WORLD AGRICULTURAL WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS

November 9 , 2001

UNITED STATES: During October, heavy rainfall disrupted fieldwork in the eastern Corn Belt. In addition, high winds and large hail locally lodged or battered unharvested summer crops. In contrast, western Corn Belt corn and soybean harvests progressed with few delays. Meanwhile across the South, heavy showers diminished by mid-month, allowing fieldwork to accelerate. Farther east, dryness persisted through a second consecutive month in the Atlantic Coast region, hampering winter wheat establishment. Similarly, mild, breezy, mostly dry conditions on the Plains promoted summer crop harvesting but reduced soil moisture for winter wheat development. Late in the month, snow briefly halted fieldwork in the Red River Valley of the North. Elsewhere, significant precipitation was confined to southern Florida and the Northwest. In the latter region, rain and snow aided pastures and winter wheat, but provided little relief from subsoil moisture shortages and drought-reduced reservoir supplies.

SOUTH AMERICA: In central Argentina, much-above-normal October rainfall delayed corn and sunflower planting and greatly increased wheat disease potentials. Elsewhere, near-normal rainfall increased moisture supplies for cotton in northern Argentina. Across most of southern Brazil, near- to above-normal October rainfall increased soil moisture for summer crop planting and for early coffee, sugarcane, and orange development. Drier weather in late October favored soybean planting and wheat harvesting, especially in Parana and southern Mato Grosso do Sul.

EUROPE: In October, near-normal rainfall in western Europe aided winter grain development in the north and provided abundant pre-planting moisture in the south. After a wet September, drier weather in eastern Europe helped winter grain planting and early growth, except in extreme southeastern Europe, where persistent dryness slowed winter grain establishment. Mild weather across the continent favored winter grain growth.

FSU-WESTERN: In October, above-normal precipitation in Russia favored winter grain establishment, but slowed corn and sunflower harvesting. Temperatures in October promoted cold-hardening in winter grains, and crops in northern Russia were well established prior to entering dormancy during the month. In Ukraine, below-normal precipitation helped corn and sunflower harvesting, although chronic dryness in parts of south-central and southeastern Ukraine limited winter wheat establishment.

NORTHWESTERN AFRICA: Pre-planting fieldwork for winter grains was likely underway throughout the region. Northern Morocco and most of Algeria received above-normal rainfall in October, helping to condition topsoils for fieldwork. Below-normal rainfall was observed In eastern Algeria and Tunisia.

MIDDLE EAST AND TURKEY: Since late October, showers have improved planting prospects for winter grains in Turkey, and from Syria southward. In Iran, light showers moistened topsoils for germination but failed to significantly improve the current drought situation.

SOUTH ASIA: Showers continued in southern India through October, improving late-season crop prospects and boosting irrigation for dry season crops, including rice. Unseasonable rain in central India increased moisture levels for immature cotton, while in the east, late monsoon rains sustained irrigation reserves for dry-season rice. Warm, dry weather in the northwest favored summer crop dry down and harvesting.

EASTERN ASIA: Across the North China Plain, welcomed rain from mid to late October benefited germinating to vegetative winter wheat, although supplemental irrigation was still needed for crop establishment. Summer crop harvesting progressed in the North China Plain and Manchuria. Above-normal rainfall boosted moisture supplies for winter grains and oilseeds across the Yangtze Valley, but slowed rice harvesting. Below-normal rainfall favored rice harvesting across extreme southern China. Above-normal October rainfall slowed rice harvesting across the Korean Peninsula and southern Japan.

SOUTHEAST ASIA: In October, dry weather throughout Thailand and most of Vietnam aided harvest activities for main-season rice. In the Philippines, dry weather favored maturing rice and early harvest activities, and second crop planting. Eastern and central Java, Indonesia, received above-normal rainfall, slowing second-season rice harvesting, but increasing moisture supplies for main-season rice transplanting. Above-normal rainfall boosted moisture supplies for oil palm in peninsular Malaysia.

AUSTRALIA: In October, timely rains boosted winter crop prospects in Western Australia and the southeast. Unseasonably late, patchy frost was recorded in Victoria and New South Wales, but crop damage, if any, was likely isolated. Elsewhere in the east, showers improved planting prospects for sorghum and cotton.

SOUTH AFRICA: Widespread, locally heavy rain increased moisture reserves for germination and establishment of corn and other summer crops, but may have disrupted wheat harvesting.