Showers could slow harvest in central Brazil

A hot and dry end to January and beginning of February for a large portion of the growing regions in South America. For the week ending Feb. 3, temperatures trended the third-hottest and one of the driest in 30-plus years for Mato Grosso and the major soybean-growing regions of Argentina, according to data from WeatherTrends360. Temperatures were cooler in southern Brazil and this was the fifth-coolest end to January in 30-plus years for Rio Grande do Sul. 

The heaviest rain fell in northern Brazil and across the northern portion of Mato Grosso and southeastward into Mineas Gerais. Southern Mato Grosso and especially Mato Grosso do Sul were very dry. El Niño has driven the hot and dry weather this season in Central Brazil and has lowered soybean yield projections which could have implications for the second corn crop.

The first full week of February, week ending Feb. 10, will bring more showers to central Brazil and portions of Argentina with drier trends in southern Brazil. The hottest weather will be across Mato Grosso do Sul and the soybean regions of Argentina and both of those regions are expected to trend the hottest in 30-plus years for the first week of February, according to forecasts from WeatherTrends360. 

While the showers are needed after a dry season thus far across central and northern Brazil, as soybean harvest and second corn crop planting operations are underway, an increase in precipitation could slow progress. Rio Grande do Sul will see the best harvest conditions with drier weather expected in the first full week of February.