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Variable global weather conditions add to uncertainty in agriculture

An atmospheric scientist says variable weather conditions across the world could create more uncertainty in agriculture.  

Eric Snodgrass is with Nutrien Ag Solutions.

“There’s two spots around the world that we’re going to have to watch carefully. China’s drought is still very real south of the Yangtze River and there’s a lot of concern it will be there next spring,” he says. “About the only place around the world that’s not in drought is in flood and that’s Australia. Their spring has been extremely wet. In the month of October, some places are 6 to 8 inches above normal rainfall. Their winter crops are not getting harvested, and their summer crops are getting a deluge of water. It’s hit some big provinces—Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and even parts of South Australia.”

He tells Brownfield the weather extremes are adding to uncertainty in the markets.

“So it’s one of those things where there seems to be global weather pressure that’s really keeping things moving a lot and that tends to be tough on markets and trying to predict where they go,” he says. “I’m glad I predict the weather because the markets are an entirely differnet animal and I’m glad I don’t have to do that every day.”

 Brownfield interviewed Snodgrass during the recent National FFA Convention and Expo.