Weather Overview in Major Global Agricultural Markets

UNITED STATES:  In the US, August was a month of extreme weather and climate disasters, be it the Mid-western windstorm, the Western wildfires or the Hurricane Laura. Events like worsening Western drought and some portion of the Midwest and Northeast areas experiencing scanty rainfall. The drier climate across the Northwest of US however, encouraged growers to take up the fieldwork, including small grain harvesting. Windstorm occurrence in the month of August was a serious event since it affected millions of acres of corn and other farming lands of the Midwestern region. Some of the most significant impact of the wind was reported in a west-to-east belt across central Iowa. Elsewhere, rainfall was sufficient across much of the South and far upper Midwest, which enabled favorable growing conditions for pastures and immature summer crops. 

CANADA: For the Prairie spring crops, weather conditions remained favorable overall. The drier weather in September is supporting harvesting in Alberta and Saskatchewan as well. In the growing regions of Ontario, the rainfall during August was beneficial in boosting the moisture content for supporting growth of soybeans and corn. 

SOUTH AMERICA: The growth of wheat was under stress due to dry climate across Argentina, in the month of August. Wheat is under vegetative to reproductive stage in Argentina, though many high yielding farming areas have received higher than the required intensity of rain in early September. In Brazil, frosty weather had elevated concern for reproductive wheat in southern production regions of the country. But farther north of Brazil, warm, sunny weather had supported the final stages of corn and cotton harvesting. 

EUROPE: The European lands of farming had received widespread showers across during August hence the moisture percentage in soil could improve for winter crop planting, particularly parts of France and Germany, which were experiencing a dry spell. However, France still faces the after effects of scanty rainfall for a longer duration hence the regions need more rain to ensure uniform wheat and rapeseed crop developments. Heavy rain across much of Eastern Europe was positive for enhancing the soil moisture for winter wheat and rapeseed planting but slowed fieldwork as well as maturing of the summer crops. Summer crops were at maturity across most growing areas by August end, with yield prospects varying from good to excellent in Poland and northern Balkan, but poor in parts of France and the lower Danube River Valley.  

FSU-WESTERN This region experienced much drier-than-normal weather during most of August. Intensifying short-term drought over Ukraine resulted in lowering yield prospects in corn, soybeans, and sunflowers which are under reproductive to filling stages. Rainfall was highly variable in Russia, with some regions facing severe drought while heavy showers occurring elsewhere.  

FSU-EASTERN Rainfall was highly variable in northern Kazakhstan and central Russia during August. This was beneficial in easing the drought conditions in these regions but the rains were in general, too late to benefit the spring grains. Seasonally influenced higher temperature and dry weather in the southern areas, supported maturing of cotton crop.  

MIDDLE EAST AND TURKEY The fieldwork was favorable for the growers of these nations during August, from the seasonably dry and warm weather. In Turkey it favored maturation of the summer crop as well. Harvesting of corn and sunflowers was underway, while cotton harvesting had commenced September onwards.  

SOUTH ASIA Monsoon rains after a poor performance in July, showed a recovery last month across central India. This benefited cultivation in the eastern rice belts and the western oilseeds growing areas. But flooding in few pockets of soybean was also seen towards later part of August hence yield loss may be observed versus last year. Meanwhile, groundnut and cotton growth was supported through consistent showers across the far west and south of India. 

EASTERN ASIA: The eastern region of China received heavy rains last month because of series of tropical cyclones. The above-average rainfall benefited summer crops in the latter stages of reproduction. It also eased or completely erased moisture problem, emerged during the month of July.   Drier weather in the Yangtze Valley reduced excessive moisture percentage from fields of rice and other summer crops. Meanwhile, conditions were good to excellent for cotton in western China – favoring yield prospects. Drought conditions on the Korean Peninsula had developed during July, but improving showers in the region, could reduce this problem to some extent.  

SOUTHEAST ASIA: Across Thailand, August rainfall stood near to above-normal. As a result the moisture conditions turned in favor of planting rice. But experts say that more rain is needed to fill the reservoirs for dry-season cropping, later this year. The northern Philippines region continued experiencing lighter-than-normal showers. The moisture conditions have been adequate for wet season crops, yet more rain is needed for replenishing the reservoirs. Elsewhere, drier-than-normal weather was reported from western oil palm growing areas of Malaysia and Indonesia. On the other hand the eastern areas were benefited due to adequate soil moisture levels.  

AUSTRALIA Rainfall was near normal across most of the wheat belt, in the month of August. This supported growth of winter grain and oilseed in most states. Therefore yield prospects of wheat, barley, and canola improved in regions of Western Australia, South Australia, and Victoria, and excellent in New South Wales. However in southern Queensland, the region faced difficulty in recovering from a severe, multi-year drought. Hence more rainfall is needed to favor the development of wheat and other winter crops.