Drew Lerner, Author at World Weather

East Australia Rain Good For Grains; Cotton Quality Declines

Kansas City, May 8 (World Weather Inc.) – New South Wales received some of the most significant rain in Australia during the past week. The rain will be beneficial for long-term winter grain and oilseed prospects, though cotton quality has been compromised. Cotton fiber discoloration has occurred in many areas and some of the mature fiber has been strung out of open bolls during periods of heavier rain. These conditions will continue through the weekend as another wave of rain comes and goes. The additional rain will be welcome for winter wheat, barley, and canola planting and emergence. Portions of Western Australia also received timely rain during the past week; though Western Australia, South Australia, and portions of Queensland are in need of more rain to support ideal winter crop prospects. Drier weather will return to Western Australia and persist for South Australia for at least another week.

Canada Prairies Soil Moisture Improves Greatly For Planting

Kansas City, May 8 (World Weather Inc.) – This week’s large rain producing storm in Canada’s Prairies brought sufficient moisture to greatly improve planting conditions to some of the most seriously drought impacted areas. This week’s storm and one that occurred in late April have produced enough moisture to eliminate dryness from the topsoil – at least for a little while. Dryness in the subsoil will allow the moisture to percolate downward into the ground relatively fast raising the need for more precipitation. Alberta’s Peace River region in the northwest corner of the province was the only area that missed out on most of the precipitation and dryness is prevailing. A brief period of drier weather may start to improve planting prospects in the Prairies during the next few days, though some precipitation is set to return later this weekend into at least the middle of next week that will further improve the moisture profile and induce some greater planting delays.

World Wheat Weather For May 8, 2024

Kansas City, May 8 (World Weather Inc.) – Wheat conditions have been a little challenging in recent weeks and months, but despite the concerns it is still hard to kill small grains with adverse weather. Freezes have recently impacted Russia and will soon impact both Russia and Ukraine again with at least some concern over temporary damage. Flooding is still a concern for Brazil planting which is on hold until late this month. Canada’s Prairies, in the meantime, has just finished its best two-week period of rain seen in years improving planting moisture for spring cereals. China wheat remains in good shape as is most of Europe while North Africa continues to struggle with dryness. There are also a few farmers worried about dryness in Western Australia.