Drew Lerner, Author at World Weather

South Africa In Need Of Rain As Planting Begins

Kansas City, October 17 (World Weather Inc.) – Planting of summer grains, oilseeds, cotton, and other crops normally begins for South Africa this month. Early-season planting has likely started a little sluggishly in some parts of the nation while possibly a little faster than usual in other areas. The most aggressive planting time is normally late October into early December leaving plenty of time for improved rainfall and it should evolve quite favorably this year. Several production areas will have opportunities for rain during the coming week that will start to improve the moisture profile, though rainfall will be too light and erratically distributed to completely fix the moisture deficits in the main production areas. Much more rain will be needed to support ideal establishment and early-season growth. Winter wheat and canola maturation and harvesting should advance well in the drier days.

Australia Rain Beneficial For Late-Season Winter Crop Growth

Kansas City, October 17 (World Weather Inc.) – Recent rain distribution across Australia has led to highly variable production potentials from one location to another and the September and early October frost and freeze events have not helped the situation. Recent rain has maintained the best production potential in New South Wales and Victoria, as long as frost and freeze damage was not too severe. Spotty rain occurred in other crop areas in the nation during the past week, although the moisture totals were mostly too light to fix long term moisture deficits which have led to some declining yield potential in a number of areas in Western and South Australia. Earlier this year, Queensland lost yield when its reproductive season occurred while conditions were hot and dry. Weather and field conditions may not change in the coming week to ten days leaving concern over winter crop production rising. In the meantime, rain is needed in summer crop areas to support planting and emergence in unirrigated fields.