WORLD AGRICULTURAL WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS

October 12 , 2001

UNITED STATES: Widespread September showers boosted soil moisture for newly planted winter wheat on the Plains, although dry pockets persisted on the northern and southern High Plains. In winter wheat areas of the drought-affected Northwest, mostly dry weather left reservoir supplies and soil moisture reserves limited. Meanwhile in the western and central Gulf Coast States, heavy rainfall diminished early in the month, although moisture damage to some summer crops was irreversible. Fieldwork accelerated in the South after mid-month, except across Florida's peninsula, where the passage of Tropical Storm Gabrielle and subsequent showers caused localized flooding. Farther north, Corn Belt summer crops progressed toward maturity under mild, showery conditions. Late-planted corn and soybeans in the northwestern Corn Belt largely escaped a brush with scattered near-freezing temperatures on September 24 and 25, but sustained some damage when freezes ended the growing season on October 6 and 7.

CANADA: In September, weather conditions favored spring crop harvesting across the Prairies. In late-September, widespread rain in eastern Canada boosted soil moisture for winter wheat germination, but came too late to help drought-stressed corn and soybeans.

SOUTH AMERICA: In Argentina, widespread above-normal September rainfall continued to boost soil moisture for vegetative winter wheat and early-season summer crop planting. Below-normal rainfall eased wetness in eastern Buenos Aires and favored late wheat planting. Across southern Brazil, near- to above-normal September rainfall also increased soil moisture for early summer crop planting and for early coffee, sugarcane, and orange development. Heavier showers in Rio Grande do Sul hampered wheat harvesting.

EUROPE: In September and early October, cool, showery weather in northwestern and south-central Europe slowed winter grain planting and summer crop harvesting. Similarly, frequent rain in much of eastern Europe hampered corn and sunflower harvesting and winter grain planting, but maintained abundant topsoil moisture for early winter grain development. In Spain and Portugal, variable showers caused brief summer crop harvesting delays.

FSU-WESTERN: In September, above-normal precipitation in Ukraine and Russia provided generous amounts of topsoil moisture for winter wheat planting. However, there was a period of dry weather from September 15-27 that aided fieldwork for summer crop harvesting and winter wheat planting. Light showers and slightly above-normal temperatures in northern Russia provided favorable conditions for winter grain establishment.

FSU-NEWLANDS: In September, periods of dry weather in Kazakstan allowed the spring grain harvest to advance with only brief delays. In Russia, a period of dry weather during the middle of September helped harvest activities. Since early October, several days of dryness in Kazakstan and Russia favored late-season harvest activities.

MIDDLE EAST AND TURKEY: In September, unseasonable warmth and dryness favored cotton harvesting. However, moisture is currently needed throughout the region for winter grain germination and establishment.

SOUTH ASIA: During September, the monsoon withdrew early from central India, limiting moisture for immature oilseeds and cotton. Shower activity increased over southern India, replenishing moisture reserves for filling summer crops and boosting irrigation for winter-grown (rabi) agriculture.

EASTERN ASIA: In late September, an earlier-than-usual freeze caused some damage to immature late-planted corn and soybeans in Heilongjiang and eastern Jilin. Below-normal rainfall reduced soil moisture for late-filling summer crops and winter wheat planting in the North China Plain, Manchuria, and the Yangtze Valley, but favored rice and summer crop harvesting. Above- normal rainfall increased irrigation supplies across the upper Yellow Basin. Two typhoons brought widespread flooding to Taiwan. Above- normal rainfall slowed rice harvesting in extreme southern China. Across the Korean Peninsula and Japan, below-normal rainfall favored rice maturation and harvesting.

SOUTHEAST ASIA: In September, near-normal precipitation and above-normal temperatures favored main-season rice in Thailand. In northern Vietnam, generally dry weather favored early rice harvesting, while dry weather to the south reduced moisture supplies for rice. Typhoon Lekima brought heavy rains to northern Luzon, Philippines causing localized flooding. Above-normal rainfall boosted moisture reserves for oil palm in peninsular Malaysia and second-season rice in Java, Indonesia.

AUSTRALIA: Since early September, timely showers have improved winter crop prospects in the southeast and much of Western Australia. However, persistent dryness fostered early harvesting of drought-stressed winter grains in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales, while reducing moisture reserves for planting sorghum and upland cotton.