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Hot, dry conditions in South America leading lower crop production
A global ag meteorologist says dry weather conditions in South America will continue to hurt corn and soybean production.
Drew Lerner with World Weather Inc tells Brownfield the situation in many countries is “status quo.” “We’ve had a lot of problems in both Argentina and Brazil and that’s hurt the yield productions and that’s all because of La Nina and the below average precipitation and that’s not going to go away. We have another 30 days of this.”
He says crops that have been struggling will continue to be impacted. “We’ve already done a lot of damage for soybeans with exception of Rio Grande into Seoul and then of course Argentina’s late beans,” he says. “Those crops are certainly going to be vulnerable to more damage. Early corn in Brazil has already been wacked pretty good and we’re probably going to lose some more.”
But, he says Brazil’s second corn crop will have favorable planting conditions. “There will be plenty of moisture around and they’ll do well with their corn,” Learner says. “Argentina’s late corn is on the line right now. The crop that was planted in September or early October has already taken a hit. Yields are down.”
Brownfield interviewed Learner at the AgMarket.Net meeting in Kansas City.
