Beneficial Rain Reported In Portions Of Northern Brazil
By Andrew Owen
Kansas City, November 2 (World Weather Inc.) – Mato Grosso, Goias, and western Minas Gerais received timely rain during the past week that helped bolster soil moisture. The rain should help expedite planting and establishment during the next several weeks. Bahia and northern Minas Gerais missed out on most of the rain during the past week and still have short or very short soil moisture. Significant rain is needed in the near future throughout northeastern Brazil, but the greatest rain will be in center west and interior southern parts of the nation.
The greatest amount of rain during the past week in Brazil’s main production region was reported from Mato Grosso through western Minas Gerais and northern Sao Paulo. Rain totals for the seven day period ending this morning ranged from 1.00 to 5.00 inches with locally greater amounts. There were also pockets that only received 0.50 to 1.00 inch of rain. Most other sections of Brazil reported 0.50 to 1.60 inches of rain with a few exceptions. Local amounts of 2.00 inches or more were reported in southern Rio Grande do Sul and in Rio de Janeiro. Bahia, northern Minas Gerais, and portions of northern Rio Grande do Sul, central Santa Catarina, and southern Parana received less than 0.75 inch of rain most often as well.
Soil conditions vary greatly across Brazil. Center-south and southern Brazil have mostly adequate to excessive moisture while many areas in Sao Paulo, western Minas Gerais, and Mato Grosso do Sul would benefit from drier weather to firm up the topsoil and improve general fieldwork conditions. While topsoil is rated adequate to excessive in Mato Grosso, Goias, and neighboring areas, subsoil moisture is still short. Subsoil conditions in these areas will gradually improve over the course of the week as the moisture from the topsoil permeates down to subsoil levels. Northern Minas Gerais and Bahia have the driest soil due to the lack of rain in recent weeks.
Winter wheat maturation and harvest conditions improved in much of southern Brazil during the past week due to the lack of significant rain. The region was often struggling with abundant moisture in September and October that impacted winter wheat. Much of the rain that fell during the past week was lost to evaporation. Continued dry weather is needed to promote the best environment for continued harvesting.
Corn, soybean, rice, cotton, and other crops are normally planted through December in Brazil. Planting got off to a slow start this year in northern Brazil due to the lack of moisture, although many areas likely began to aggressively plant in recent days. As long as timely rain continues in the next few weeks, there should be few issues with planting and establishment. The only areas of concern are in northern Minas Gerais and Bahia.
Much of Brazil will see scattered showers and thunderstorms evolve on a frequent basis this week. The rain will help to either maintain status quo soil moisture or induce a net increase in moisture. Planting and general fieldwork will be slowed at times, although most areas will have opportunities between rain events to get into the fields. Northern Minas Gerais and Bahia will remain in a dry mode this week. Soil moisture will remain short or very short and little planting progress is expected.
Temperatures will trend near normal in center-south and northern Brazil this week while trending near to below average in southern Brazil. Daytime highs will be in the 80s and lower 90s Fahrenheit in a large section of center-south and northern Brazil. A few pockets will occasionally warm over 100 degrees. Southern Brazil will warm into the upper 70s and 80s most often during the day. The warm weather and frequent precipitation will promote a good environment for establishment and development.
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