Drew Lerner, Author at World Weather

Australia Winter Grain, Oilseed Areas Need Rain

Kansas City, May 5 (World Weather Inc.) – The bulk of the winter wheat, barley, and canola planting occurs in May and June for Australia. The main production areas saw a good mix of rain and sunshine during the past week, which was welcome for the recently planted crops. However, drier than usual weather will return during the coming week for much of crop country. The ground will once again firm and the need for timely rain will increase later this month as more crops are planted. Concerns remain high for reduced production from last season due to the gradual evolution of El Nino in the coming weeks, which tends to suppress rainfall for eastern Australia. Late-season harvesting of the summer crops will advance with few disruptions.

Weekly Citrus Weather for Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Kansas City, May 5 (World Weather Inc.) – Florida’s citrus areas saw a mix of erratic rain and sunshine during the past week. Resulting rainfall was too light to break the drought and there is still a pressing need for significant rain. The region will only see brief periods of spotty rain during the coming week. Drought will prevail. In Mexico, the main production areas in east-central and northeastern Mexico will have several opportunities for rain during the coming week. The precipitation will improve or maintain favorable citrus flowering, fruit setting, and general development. Brazil’s citrus areas will see relatively favorable harvest conditions during the coming week.

West-Central U.S. Plains Freeze Thursday Raises Wheat Threat

Kansas City, May 5 (World Weather Inc.) – How many lives does winter wheat have? Nine? It seems like this year’s wheat has been wiped out multiple times already by extreme cold in late January and mid-March. There have also been frequent freezes in recent weeks separated by some impressive heat. The frequent gyrations in temperature are stressful enough to plant life and then there is the drought to consider. Crops were planted favorably last autumn and were well established prior to dormancy. Since then, dryness has steadily worsened and the region’s drought in combination with temperature extremes has seriously stressed wheat and other crops in the central and southwestern Plains this year. One more bout of extremes is expected Thursday with morning temperatures falling into the middle and upper 20s Fahrenheit in Colorado and western Kansas. Could this be the last straw for a crop that is already rated poorly? World Weather, Inc. believes some damage is possible and the impact when added to all of the other problems will maintain a lower production year for the crop, but a true disaster is not likely.