WORLD AGRICULTURAL WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS

June 12, 2002

UNITED STATES: Late-May and early-June warmth aided the emergence and development of corn, soybeans, and spring-sown small grains across the northern Plains and upper Midwest, following a 5-week cool spell. Meanwhile, early-season heat in the Southwest strained drought-reduced irrigation reserves. Heat reached the central and southern High Plains by the end of May, promoting winter wheat maturation but increasing stress on dryland summer crops. Just to the east, areas from the southeastern Plains to the Ohio Valley suffered through repeated rounds of heavy rain. In the Corn Belt, significant spring planting delays were noted from Missouri to Ohio. Meanwhile in the Northeast, widespread rainfall further eased long-term drought, but showers were more widely scattered in the southern Atlantic region, which continued to experience the effects of a 4-year drought. Unfavorable dryness also persisted from southern Texas to the southern Delta. Farther north, Montana's drought-stricken pastures and small grains received beneficial precipitation during May, although windy conditions and lingering long-term drought limited crop recovery.

CANADA: In early June, locally heavy rainfall, and somewhat warmer weather, improved early growth prospects of Prairie spring grains and oilseeds. In eastern Canada, conditions favored emerging corn and soybeans, although cool, showery weather raised some concerns about the potential for disease development in reproductive winter wheat.

SOUTH AMERICA: During May, drier weather promoted summer crop harvesting in central and northern Argentina, following April's excessive wetness. Locally heavy rain in Brazil's center-south region boosted soil moisture for wheat germination and establishment. In early June, conditions favored winter wheat planting throughout the region and, in Brazil, harvesting of crops such as coffee and citrus.

EUROPE: In May, near- to above-normal rainfall across England, France, Germany, and most of Poland boosted moisture supplies for winter grain and summer crop development. In southeastern Europe, below-normal May rainfall and warm weather continued to reduce already low moisture reserves. However, late-May and early-June rain in this region increased moisture supplies for early summer crop development, but arrived too late to improve prospects for drought-stressed winter grains. Above-normal rain slowed fieldwork in northern Italy. Below-normal rainfall and seasonable temperatures aided crop development in southern Spain. .

FSU-WESTERN: In May, unfavorable dryness persisted from Moldova, eastward across southern Ukraine into parts of the Southern Region in Russia, stressing winter wheat that advanced through the reproductive phase of development and spring-sown crops in the vegetative stage. Since June 1, variable showers in these areas stabilized conditions for filling winter wheat and improved conditions for spring-sown crops in the vegetative stage.

FSU-NEWLANDS: In May, unseasonably cold weather extended from the Urals Region in Russia southward into major spring grain producing areas of central Kazakstan, hampering planting activities and slowing germination and emergence. Mild, showery weather prevailed in eastern spring grain areas in Siberia, favoring rapid germination.

MIDDLE EAST AND TURKEY: In Iran and Turkey, near- to below-normal May rainfall favored filling to maturing winter grains, while moisture supplies remained adequate for summer crop development. Below-normal temperatures continued to slow summer crop development in Turkey.

SOUTH ASIA: In May, near- to above-normal rainfall promoted early field preparations in nearly all Indian summer crop areas. The monsoon arrived on schedule, allowing growers to begin planting in the south.

EASTERN ASIA: Across the North China Plain, a period of excessive wetness ended in mid May, bringing some relief to maturing winter wheat and fostering summer crop planting. A heat wave from late May to early June aided winter wheat dry down but likely stressed emerging summer crops. In early June, soaking rain brought relief to summer crops from the North China Plain to Manchuria, but threatened the quality of unharvested winter wheat. Across southern China, conditions were generally favorable for rice cultivation, with periodic warmth and dryness supporting early double crop rice harvesting.

SOUTHEAST ASIA: In May, most of Indochina received near- to above-normal rainfall, increasing moisture supplies for upcoming rice planting, but slowing harvest activities. Near- to above-normal rainfall slowed planting but boosted moisture supplies in the Philippines. Generally dry weather in Java, Indonesia allowed main-season rice harvesting to proceed normally, while above-normal rainfall increased moisture supplies for oil palm in Sumatra and peninsular Malaysia.

AUSTRALIA: During May, a lack of topsoil moisture in many areas delayed winter grain planting and limited early crop development. However, the dryness favored summer crop harvesting in the east.

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