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World crop and weather highlights
Below are links to National Weather Service world climate maps courtesy of the NWS Climate Prediction Center. Clicking on a link will open a map in a new window.
Last updated: July 27, 2010
Western Canada
Warm and humid weather created unsettled conditions which brought locally heavy rains (35 65 mm), high winds, and hail to northern growing regions. Most of the Prairies received light to locally moderate rains (10-35 mm), maintaining adequate moisture supply to heading grain crops. Temperatures remained at seasonal values or slightly below average across the Prairies last week. Crop development benefitted from the warmer temperatures and scattered rains, but development remains behind normal in Saskatchewan and Alberta. Depending on the region and seeding date, crop development is seven to fourteen days behind normal. The absence of heat stress, moisture reserves, and warmer temperatures has created some ideal growing conditions for those crops that were able to be seeded earlier.
United States
Moderate (50-80 mm) to locally heavy rains (100–170 mm) rains fell in the Cornbelt last week. While these rains benefitted corn and soybeans on high ground or sandy soils, they were negative for crops in low lying areas. The light rains caused only very minor delays as high temperatures allowed farmers to maintain harvest pace. The SRW is essentially complete. The HRW harvest has moved into the Northern Plains. White Wheat harvest in the PNW remains delayed due to the below normal temperatures and is just starting. Continued high temperatures (26-38°C) boosted corn and soybean development. Cooler than normal temperatures were limited to the Northern Plains and the PNW, continuing crop development delays. Corn progress is ahead of normal with 84 per cent of the crop in the silking stage, compared to 70 per cent normally. Corn conditions are mostly good to excellent. Spring wheat development is slightly behind the norm and the crop condition is mostly good to excellent.
Argentina
Temperatures remained 1 to 7 degrees Celsius below normal. Overnight low's ranged from 0 to -10 degrees Celsius in agricultural regions. The low temperatures continued to slow emergence and development. Some light to moderate rains (10-60 mm) fell in eastern growing regions. From western Buenos Aires and Santa Fe to the west, only a few scattered showers and short-lived flurries fell. The rain in the east was beneficial to maintain soil moisture conditions. In the west, the lack of soil moisture has reduced the potential wheat and barley area.
Brazil
Heavy rains (100-150+ mm) fell in the southern cereal growing region of Rio Grande do Sul, but tapered off to showers and light rain (1-15 mm) further north towards Parana. While temperatures remained below normal, the departure was not nearly as great as the previous week. Temperature anomalies were only 1 to 5 degrees Celsius below normal in Rio Grande do Sul and Mato Grosso do Sul. Temperatures were normal to 1 to 5 degrees Celsius above normal elsewhere. Daily high's were between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius in the south and 25 to 40 degrees Celsius in the northern regions. The cool temperatures with the absence of frost was favourable to cereal crops in the south.
Australia
Australian growing regions were dry or received a few scattered showers (1-10 mm) last week. Temperatures were near normal, with daily high's generally between 10 and 20 degrees Celsius. No important frosts occurred last week. The lack of rain had no negative impact given the abundance of rain over the previous week and the lack of high temperatures.
Western Europe
The heat wave eased in Western Europe, while substantial precipitation hampered the harvest in eastern France and southern Germany last week. Heavy rains (50-120 mm), along with destructive winds and large hail have affected maturing crops and halted the harvest in southern Germany and Pays de La Loire in France. Substantial rains fell in the northern UK, but scattered light rains maintained fair conditions in the southern UK. Temperatures returned to normal values in France, while Germany and Scandinavia experienced temperatures 1 to 5 degrees above average. The highest deviations were reported in northern Germany and Denmark. Maximum temperatures were generally between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius in the UK and Scandinavia, and reached 30 to 35 degrees Celsius in Germany and France.
Cereal harvest have advanced in southern Europe last week under generally good weather conditions. Temperatures were 1 to 5 degrees Celsius above normal across the region, with the highest deviations reported in Italy. Daily high's were mostly between 30 to 40 degrees Celsius.
Suitable weather conditions helped to accelerate harvest pace in much of France. Rains hampered the harvest in southern Germany, but were mostly favourable to filling crops in the UK. The harvest is near completion in southern Europe.
Eastern Europe
Unsettled weather conditions generated heavy rains and damaging winds in parts of central and eastern Europe last week. These unfavourable conditions halted the harvest and downgraded the quality of the grains in Romania, Poland, Slovakia, and Czech. Heavy rainfall amounts (50 100+ mm) fell in western Poland, Czech, and Slovakia, while moderate amounts (10-50 mm) fell in Romania and northern Bulgaria. Moderate to heavy rains (10 75 mm) maintained abundant moisture supplies for filling to maturing winter grains in much of the Baltic region. Temperatures were 1 to 5 degrees Celsius above the norm in the Balkans and 5 to 9 degrees above average in Poland and the Baltic region. Daily high's generally ranged between 30 to 35 degrees Celsius, and reached the upper thirties in western Poland and western Balkans. The excessive heat hurt filling soft wheat in Poland and may have a negative impact on corn crops in central Europe. Abundant moisture supplies were beneficial for filling grain crops in the Baltic region, but will delay the harvest for maturing crops.
Russia
Dry condition and hot temperatures continued across western Russia last week. While the winter crop harvest remained at a steady pace, the spring crops continued to suffer from excessive heat and lack of moisture. Scattered light rains (5-30 mm) in the Southern District maintained fair to adequate moisture supplies for spring and summer crops, including corn. Spring wheat and barley continues to deteriorate in the Volga region and crops are pushed to maturity sooner than normal. Temperatures continue to be consistently above normal in western Russia, with historical high's reported again across the country. Deviations from seasonal temperatures reached 3 to 10 degrees Celsius, and daily high's remained in the upper thirties across much of the region.
Substantial rains were confined in eastern Siberia, while recurring dryness continued to stress spring crops in the Urals last week. Rainfall amounts reached 10 to 75 mm in eastern Siberia, but dry conditions prevailed westwards. Light rains in the southwestern edge of the Urals did little to ease the severe dryness in the region, but dry conditions resumed in much of the Urals. Temperatures were close to normal in the Urals, but plunged to 1 to 5 degrees Celsius below seasonal average in Siberia. Daily high's were generally between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius in Siberia, and reached the low to mid-thirties in the Urals.
Heat and desiccating winds have damaged winter and spring crops in central Russia, including Volga, eastern Central District, and the Urals. Generally good conditions and hot temperatures boosted winter grain harvest in Western Russia. Rains and cooling temperatures improved spring crop conditions in parts of Siberia, but delayed development due to the late seeding season exposed Siberian grains to late season accidents.
Ukraine
Favourable conditions helped dry the excess of moisture and boost the harvest pace in much of the Steppe region last week. Light to locally moderate precipitation (10-35 mm) was confined in western Ukraine, while dry conditions were welcome in the main winter wheat growing areas in the southeast. Temperatures continued to be consistently above normal across the Ukraine, with deviations of 3 to 9 degrees above seasonal average. Daily high's were generally between 30 and 40 degrees Celsius, with the highest values (36-38°C) reported in north-eastern regions.
Ideal conditions boosted the harvest of winter wheat. however, the heat wave is expected to slightly affect spring and summer crops in northeastern areas, which experienced periods of dryness in the last two months.
Kazakhstan
Substantial rains fell in eastern Kazakhstan last week, but missed much of the key growing areas that are in desperate need of moisture. Moderate to heavy rains (25-75 mm) covered Karaganda in central Kazakhstan, while light to moderate rains (10-50 mm) covered the eastern-most Oblasts. Only scattered light rains (2-15 mm) fell in central Akmola and western Atkubinsk, while the rest of the key growing areas, including Kostani, North Kaz, and Akmola, was dry. Temperatures were below normal, with deviations of 1 to 6 degrees Celsius below seasonal average. Daily high's were mostly between 26 and 35 degrees Celsius, with the highest values reported in eastern and southern Kazakhstan.
The rains and cooling temperatures helped to stabilize spring wheat yields in eastern areas, but crops in the west are still under severe drought stress. These conditions pushed crops quickly toward maturity and the harvest may start sooner in southern and eastern Oblasts.
China
Moderate to heavy rains (25-200+ mm) covered the bulk of the country last week from the southwest to the northeast. It was only in Nei Mongol and Xinjiang that experienced mainly dry conditions (0-9 mm). The rains benefitted summer crops, but hampered spring wheat harvest in the northwest. Temperatures were slightly above normal in most agricultural regions. The exception was Nei Mongol where temperatures were 1 to 6 degrees above normal. Daily high's were generally between 28 and 38 degrees Celsius. While temperatures remain high, the return to more normal precipitation levels minimized the negative impact. The exception to this was in Nei Mongol and Xinjiang where June precipitation deficits were amplified by weeks of very high temperatures and minimal rainfall.
India/Pakistan
Monsoon rains continued across inland growing regions, benefitting dryland summer crops and boosting reservoir levels. Over 400 mm fell in Punjab and along the west coast. Precipitation was more modest across central India (50-180 mm). Monsoon rains to date are slightly below normal nationally. Temperatures were near normal across the country. Daily high's remained mostly between 28 and 42 degrees Celsius. The heavy rains in the northwest aided summer crops and stopped any irrigation demands.
Moderate to heavy rains (25-150 mm) fell in central growing areas of Pakistan last week. Rainfall was either absent or light (0-15 mm) elsewhere. Temperatures were mostly close to normal across the country. Daily high's ranged from 35 to 46 degrees Celsius.
South Africa
Dry conditions prevailed across South Africa, allowing the late sowing activities to progress last week. The soil moisture is very poor in the Free State and the North West, and established winter wheat crop is in desperate need of moisture. Better conditions prevailed in the Western Cape where previous rains have improved the soil moisture and helped germination and emergence of the new crop, however, more rains are needed in the region. Temperatures were normal to slightly above normal across the main growing areas. Freezing overnight temperatures continued to stress crops across the Free State and the North West, although minimum temperatures stayed in the range of -3 and 0 degrees Celsius. Daily high's were generally between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius.
North Africa
Mostly dry conditions allowed the harvest to near completion in the Wheat Belt in North Africa last week. Only scattered light rains (2 10 mm) fell in parts of Algeria and Tunisia. Temperatures continued to be above normal values, with deviations of 1 to 6 degrees Celsius above seasonal average. Daily high's ranged between 33 to 45 degrees Celsius across the main growing areas.
Iran
Mostly dry conditions and hot temperatures boosted the harvest activities across the northwestern growing areas in Iran last week. Temperatures were normal to slightly above normal. Daily high's were generally between 30 and 42 degrees Celsius in the western growing areas, and reached 38 to 45 degrees Celsius in the eastern and central areas. The harvest is near completion in Iran.
Syria
Dry conditions and hot temperatures continued in Syria last week. Temperatures were 1 to 3 degrees Celsius above seasonal average. Daily high's ranged from 32 to 38 degrees Celsius in the western areas, and over 40 degrees Celsius in the eastern portion of the country. The harvest is complete in Syria.
Turkey
Favourable weather conditions helped the harvest to advance in western and northern Turkey last week. Isolated storms generated only scattered light showers (2-25 mm) in northern Turkey and parts of central Anatolia, while dry conditions and hot temperatures prevailed in rest of the growing areas. Temperatures were 1 to 5 degrees Celsius above normal. Daily high's were generally between 30 and 36 degrees Celsius, and reached 35 to 43 degrees Celsius in southeastern Anatolia where the harvest is complete.
