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Better than expected South America growing season

An ag meteorologist says a weaker La Niña weather pattern this winter has created better-than-expected growing conditions in South America.

USDA deputy chief meteorologist Mark Brusberg tells Brownfield at the beginning of 2016 expectations were for the strong El Niño to transition into an equally strong La Niña weather system which would have meant a drought in Argentina during their growing season.  “As time went forward, that didn’t really pan out.  We’re in what I would characterize as a weak either La Niña or a weak cool event because we’re not quite at the temperature right now to be considered a La Niña.”

He says while Argentina’s growing season started out drier than normal, rain events in the last week have brought generally favorable conditions.  “Argentina looks fine for now, Brazil got off to a good start so the corn and soybean prospects are good so far in Brazil.”

Brusberg says it may be March or April before U.S. farmers see the effects of the South American crop on the market, but a bumper crop in the Southern Hemisphere would only continue to put downward pressure on prices.

USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Service is predicting a slightly smaller 2017 soybean crop in Argentina and a bumper corn crop.

AUDIO: Interview with Mark Brusberg