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Crop and weather analysts watching dryness in Brazil

Commodity traders will be keeping a close eye on weather conditions in South America over the next couple of weeks.

Major soybean producing areas in Brazil have turned very dry as the crop heads into the critical pod-filling stage.

“All the way through the end of this year, the probability of them having adequate rainfall is low,” says Eric Snodgrass, a meteorologist with Nutrien Ag Solutions. “We are forecasting for them to go back into a wetter pattern by the time we get to, maybe, the first full week of the new year. If there’s any delay in that, it will have a problem with production ag in Brazil.”

Crop and weather analysts say some crop loss has likely occurred, but the extent of the damage is not yet known.

We spoke with Snodgrass Wednesday at the annual meeting of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association, where he was the featured speaker.

AUDIO: Eric Snodgrass