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Despite the drought, grains expect good prospects for grains and oilseeds.
Wet weather conditions continued in Europe, providing good to excellent prospects for winter grains and oilseeds, according to the USDA's weekly crop bulletin. However, drought conditions have intensified in southwestern growing areas, particularly in Portugal and Spain.
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Also according to the bulletin, rain fell with heavy to excessive intensity in some areas, with moderate to heavy rain persisting from England and France eastward into the western parts of Poland, Hungary and the Balkans. In Norway, a second area of heavier rainfall was observed, while in Italy, instabilities in the form of showers were highly variable.
Rainy weather has largely bypassed the Balkans, northeastern Poland and the central Danube River valley, but cropland in these areas has adequate soil moisture for spring growth. Meanwhile, drought conditions in Spain were worsened by temperatures up to 5°C above normal, with daytime highs at or near 30°C in southern growing areas.
Southern Spain's water year total rainfall since September 1 was now at 70% of normal, the driest level since 2012.
In general, the weather conditions recorded last week provide good prospects for winter grains and oilseeds. However, drought conditions have intensified in southwestern growing areas, particularly in Portugal and Spain, which could have a negative impact on crop yields in those regions.
Source: Seane Lennon | agrolink
