DRY WEATHER HEIGHTENS RISK FOR HARVEST-TIME FIELD FIRES
The state climatologist for Illinois says there is a heightened risk for field fires across the Midwest this harvest season. Trent Ford tells Brownfield there has been little rain across the region the last 30 days. “The crop has dried down very quickly. The soil on which the crop sits is very dry and the prairie that’s surrounding the fields is also very dry.” Ford says farmers in the central and western Corn Belt should be on high alert for potential fires, even east of the Corn Belt, where conditions are wetter, the risk is present in some parts. He reminds farmers to keep a fire extinguisher in the machinery cab and have a fire response plan in place.
(Link: brownfieldagnews.com)
EXTREME BRAZIL HEAT IN LAST WEEK OF WINTER A RISK TO SOYBEAN PLANTING
A large part of Brazil is expected to suffer from extreme heat this week, with meteorologists warning of temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104°F), which could hamper the country’s soybean planting. Atmospheric conditions will prevent the arrival of cold fronts in most of the country over the next few days, prompting a long sequence of sunny days with heat well above the normal levels for the last week of winter in the Southern Hemisphere, said independent weather forecaster Climatempo. The forecaster has also warned of potential health issues resulting from the constant and excessive heat that will mainly affect a large part of the Southeast and Center-West regions of the country.
“Thermometers can easily go over 42 degrees (Celsius) from Paraguay, western Parana, Sao Paulo, Minas Gerais, Bahia…”, said the agrometeorologist at Rural Clima, Marco Antonio dos Santos, noting that the biggest concern is with Mato Grosso, Goias and Mato Grosso do Sul, “where thermometers can easily reach 45, 46 degrees.”
(Link: www.agriculture.com)
US HRW (HARD RED WINTER) WHEAT EXPORTS PROJECTED AT RECORD LOW
US Hard Red Winter (HRW) wheat exports are forecast to fall to their lowest level, according to a recent report from the Economic Research Service (ERS). The ERS projected HRW exports to decline to 155 million tonnes, revised downward by 10 million tonnes from its August projection. “HRW supplies have seen a long-term downturn in US acreage as corn and soy have gained acreage in many locations,” the ERS said. “At the same time, international wheat competition has surged, resulting in exports of this class being less competitive on the global market.” Total US export commitments as of Aug. 31 were at 7.9 million tonnes, down 21% from the same time a year ago.
(Link: WorldGrain.com)
