December 1999
WEATHER BRIEFS
Argentina: Rain Benefitted Summer Crops, More is Needed in the North
During the first week of November 1999, widespread rain that had begun in October benefitted reproductive to filling winter wheat, germinating corn, and sunflowerseed in central Argentina. That week, heavier showers covered Cordoba and northern La Pampa, causing some local flooding and possible damage to mature winter wheat. Rain also improved soil moisture for cotton and soybean planting in northern Argentina. During November 9 and 10, isolated frost in southwestern and east-central Buenos Aires caused localized damage to filling and maturing winter wheat. This damage should not significantly reduce national production. During November 14 - 20, rain boosted soil moisture for summer crops across Cordoba, La Pampa, and southern Buenos Aires. In Santa Fe, however, dry weather reduced soil moisture for summer crop planting. During November 21 - 27, scattered light to moderate rain increased soil moisture across the major corn and soybean area of central Argentina. Northern Argentina was dry for the third consecutive week, causing stress to germinating cotton and slowing summer crop planting. From November 28 through December 4, light to moderate rain brought little relief to dryness in most of northern Argentina. Rain maintained favorable soil moisture levels in southern Cordoba and La Pampa. Widespread moderate to heavy rain fell across southern Buenos Aires, slowing winter wheat maturation and harvesting and possibly reducing quality.
Southern Brazil: Late November Rain Brought Some Relief for Summer Crops
During the first three weeks of November 1999, mostly dry weather stressed soybeans and corn in extreme southern Brazil. Dryness, primarily in Parana, Rio Grande do Sul and southern Mato Grosso do Sul, had also started to slow soybean planting do to low topsoil moisture. During November 28 through December 4, scattered showers and cooler weather provided some relief for developing corn and soybeans in extreme southern Brazil. Also, light to moderate rain fell across the major soybean and coffee areas of southern Brazil. Unfortunately, warm and dry weather increased crop stress in Mato Grosso do Sul. As of December 5, the driest areas of southern Brazil include Mato Grosso do Sul, Parana, and Rio Grande do Sul, where rainfall has averaged 20 to 30 percent of normal during the prior 4 weeks. More rain is needed in these areas to provide adequate soil moisture for summer crop development.
South Africa: Rain Benefits Emerging Corn Crop
Unseasonably warm and dry weather persisted across South Africa’s corn belt from November 1 through 20, restricting summer crop planting but hastening winter wheat maturity. During the week of November 21 - 27, moderate showers swept through the eastern half of the corn belt, improving soil moisture conditions for recently-planted grains and oilseeds. In late November and early December, highly beneficial rainfall covered western corn areas and spurred summer crop planting, which had been delayed in the region by several weeks due to dryness. The rain also lowered temperatures to more seasonable levels. The planting window for summer crops extends through early January, but crops planted after November are at greater risk of summer heat stress during critical stages of development.
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