Drier and warmer weather conditions are forecast in January in some parts of South America, including Brazil and Argentina, according to a World Grain report.
The dry conditions were expected to become quite significant during the early to middle part of January and possibly into the latter part of the month, the 6 January report said.
Early planted corn and sunflowerseed were developing well due to good levels of soil moisture and timely rainfall in December, World Grain wrote.
However, more recently planted crops were likely to be impacted by lower topsoil moisture, the report said.
Although most medium- and long-range forecasts expected scattered showers and thunderstorms with some slight cooling in mid-January, with La Niña-like conditions prevailing, it was likely declining soil and crop conditions would resume later in the month, World Grain wrote.
As well as impacting central and east-central Argentina, drier and warmer weather conditions were also expected to affect southern Paraguay, portions of Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul state and Uruguay.
Although Brazil’s Santa Catarina, Paraná and Mato Grosso do Sul states could also be affected, these areas had a relatively good chance of timely rainfall that would help reduce the potential for serious crop stress, the report said.
As a result of recent weather conditions, South America could experience a decline in production potential, but the impact could be minor unless adverse conditions continued in February, World Grain wrote.
