The rainfall situation in the major crop-growing regions of South America is essentially an "average by extremes" situation to begin the week during a critical time period for that region's corn and soybean crop development.
First, the area where there's the most potential weather stress building: Argentina. It was another dry weekend in much of the crop-rich part of that nation, and though there are a few showers in the outlook for the next week, there's still a general shortage of moisture, says MDA Weather Services senior ag meteorologist Don Keeney.
"Dry weather prevailed this past weekend, which maintained moisture shortages and crop stress across northern Santa Fe, northern Entre Rios, northeastern Cordoba, and central and southern Buenos Aires," he says. "A few showers should return to central and northern areas this week, which should improve moisture a bit. The rains will be most beneficial in northern Santa Fe and northern Entre Rios. However, more rains may still be needed there to completely end dryness, and moisture shortages and stress will likely continue across southern Buenos Aires."
Now, to where moisture's been a little more common, and the crops aren't stressing as much: Brazil. Key crop areas of that country saw rainfall through the weekend, and that's likely to continue through this week. It's far from consistent, though, and a few concerns will remain, especially in areas adjacent to more parched Argentina.
"Rains continued to increase moisture across south-central areas this past weekend, especially northern Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, western Parana, and central Mato Grosso do Sul," Keeney says. "Additional rains in Rio Grande do Sul and western Mato Grosso this week will further improve moisture there as well. However, some dryness will likely continue across southern Goias, northern and eastern Sao Paulo, eastern Parana, and southeastern Mato Grosso do Sul. Continued abundant rains in southern Parana, Santa Catarina, through the 10-day period will increase wetness concerns. Meanwhile, wetness will ease further in northeastern areas."