Europe

Moderate to heavy rainfall persisted across much of the continent, although drier weather returned by week’s end. Another in a series of slow-moving storms produced widespread showers and thunderstorms (10-50 mm, locally more) from France and the United Kingdom eastward into southern Poland and the Balkans. The rain further hampered fieldwork, caused flooding of low-lying fields, and slowed crop development. However, soil moisture remained adequate to abundant for summer crops, in particular corn and sunflowers in southern growing areas (Italy and the Balkans) which were ravaged last year by heat and drought. By week’s end, drier and warmer conditions settled over central and eastern Europe, with daytime highs in the lower 30s (degrees C) accelerating corn into the reproductive stages of development. The return of dry weather was also beneficial for pesticide applications and other seasonal fieldwork in northern Europe.

Russia & Ukraine

Beneficial showers across western and northern crop regions contrasted with increasing heat and dryness in the south. A ridge of high pressure settled over the Caspian Sea, bringing the hottest weather of the season (32-38°C) to Russia’s Southern District. The increasing temperatures stressed filling wheat and added to the already variable crop conditions in this key winter wheat area. Unfavorably warm weather (30-35°C) also spread into eastern Ukraine and southern portions of Russia’s Central and Volga Districts, increasing stress on reproductive to filling winter grains. However, spotty showers (1-15 mm) in these locales provided localized relief from the heat and maintained mostly favorable soil moisture for crop development. Meanwhile, moderate to heavy rain (20-70 mm) increased soil moisture for summer crops in western Ukraine, Belarus, and northwestern portions of the Central District.

South Asia

The monsoon surged to cover all of India as reported by the India Meteorological Department. The monsoon arrived in the western and northern states of India 2 to 4 weeks ahead of schedule and many areas received two to three times the normal rainfall as of the second week of June. A rapid pace of planting oilseeds, rice, and cotton was likely, as growers attempted to take advantage of the early availability of moisture. The only areas that missed significant rains were in the lower Ganges River Plain (eastern Uttar Pradesh and northern Bihar), but these areas received abundant pre-monsoon rains to keep moisture supplies favorable for rice. In conjunction with the early onset of the monsoon, unseasonably heavy rain (25-85 mm) also occurred in Pakistan, boosting moisture supplies for vegetative cotton and rice. In contrast, rainfall continued to be below normal in Bangladesh, although summer rice transplanting doesn’t begin until July.

China - East Asia

Rainfall stabilized moisture conditions for vegetative corn and soybeans in portions of northeast China, where significant rainfall deficits have occurred. Jilin in particular received around 15 mm of rain, improving soil moisture for summer crops. However, Liaoning and neighboring areas of Inner Mongolia continued to experience less than adequate rainfall (less than 10 mm) as seasonal (since May 1) rainfall totals remained half of normal. Western Heilongjiang, meanwhile, received 25 to 50 mm of rain, furthering the above-normal rainfall for the season. Rainfall totals in eastern Heilongjiang were less than 10 mm, but consistent May rains provided enough moisture for corn and soybeans despite relatively low rainfall during the first half of June. Farther south, a brief, but heavy, period of rain in Hebei and Shandong caused winter wheat harvest delays but boosted moisture supplies for summer crops. In contrast, dry weather in Henan, Anhui, and Jiangsu aided winter wheat harvesting but extended a period with little rainfall for summer crops. Similar conditions occurred in the Yangtze Valley where less than 10 mm of rain was reported for the week. Moisture supplies remained favorable for summer crops, however, due to previously consistent rainfall. The most consistent rains (50-100 mm) continued to be in southern China, where moisture surpluses existed for rice. Elsewhere in the region, a brief period of showers (10-45 mm) maintained favorable moisture supplies for rice in North Korea, with lesser rainfall amounts (less than 10 mm) maintaining adequate moisture for rice in South Korea. Showers (less than 10 mm) remained unseasonably light across much of Japan, where short-term moisture deficits continued in key rice growing areas. Temperatures in the region were generally near to below normal, with-warmer-than usual weather in northeastern China and throughout the Korean Peninsula and into Japan.

Australia

In southern and eastern Australia, widespread, soaking rains (10-50 mm) favoured winter crop emergence and establishment, maintaining good early season crop prospects for wheat, barley, and canola. Elsewhere in the wheat belt, lighter, more widely scattered showers (3-12 mm) fell across Western Australia, maintaining adequate topsoil moisture for winter grain and oilseed development. Temperatures in Western Australia averaged near normal, while warmer-than-normal weather (temperatures averaging up to 3°C above normal) in southern and eastern Australia helped accelerate crop development.

Argentina

Conditions remained favourable for seasonal fieldwork throughout the main production areas of central Argentina. Little to no rain fell in La Pampa, Buenos Aires, and nearby locations in Cordoba, Santa Fe, and Entre Rios. Light rain (less than 10 mm) extended northward from western Cordoba to Salta, but heavier showers (rainfall totaling more than 25 mm) returned to sections of northeastern Argentina (central Santa Fe to eastern Formosa) after an absence of more than 3 weeks. Though untimely for harvesting cotton and other summer crops, the rain in the northeast maintained generally favorable levels of moisture for germination and establishment of winter grains. Weekly temperatures averaged 3 to 6°C above normal throughout the region, with daytime highs ranging from the lower 20s (degrees C) in southeastern Buenos Aires to the lower 30s in the vicinity of western Formosa. Consequently, many central and northern areas continued to lack a season-ending freeze. According to Argentina’s Ministry of Agriculture, soybean harvesting was virtually complete (99 percent) as of June 13. Corn was 80 percent harvested versus 69 percent at this time last year. In addition, winter wheat planting and related activities were reportedly underway in most major production areas.

Brazil

Warm, mostly dry weather dominated most major farming areas of southern and central Brazil, fostering drydown and harvesting of sugarcane and coffee while reducing moisture for immature row crops. Rainfall totaled 10 to 25 mm — locally higher — in western Parana and southern Mato Grosso do Sul, with similar or lighter amounts scattered throughout neighboring states. The rain maintained generally favorable levels of moisture in these areas for secondary (safrinha) corn though some temporary delays in seasonal fieldwork may have resulted. Otherwise, little to no rain fell from Rio Grande do Sul northward to Mato Grosso and the northeastern interior (western Bahia, Tocantins, and southern farming areas of Piaui and Maranhao). The dryness in the northern part of this region is typical for June, though additional moisture would have been welcome for immature safrinha corn and cotton. Weekly average temperatures were 1 to 2°C above normal in southern and central Brazil, with daytime highs reaching the lower 20s (degrees C) in Rio Grande do Sul and the middle 30s in traditionally warmer locations in Mato Grosso and Tocantins. Elsewhere, seasonal rain (10-100 mm, with highest totals nearest the coast) increased irrigation reserves for sugarcane, cocoa, and other crops grown along the northeastern coast.

Canada

Showery weather continued across the Prairies, maintaining generally favorable conditions for emerging spring grains and oilseeds. Most areas recorded rainfall totaling 5 to 25 mm, though some northern farming areas in Saskatchewan and Alberta — including the Peace River Valley — recorded up to 50 mm. Weekly average temperatures were near to slightly above normal (daytime highs reaching the middle and upper 20s degrees C) in Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan, spurring crop development following several mild weeks. Cooler weather (weekly average temperatures as much as 3°C below normal) prevailed farther west, with daytime highs ranging from the upper teens in the Peace River Valley to the middle 20s in western Saskatchewan. Despite the cooler conditions in the west, with nighttime lows falling below 5°C, no freezes were reported.
 
USA

Near- to above average temperatures blanketed much of the country during the week. Most notably, temperatures averaged more than 8°F above normal across portions of the central High Plains, where the mercury climbed well over 100°F. Precipitation was scattered throughout much of the nation during the week, with the largest accumulations evident in southwest Texas and portions of the East. Although rainfall totals throughout much of the Midwest were lower than in recent weeks, continued moisture in portions of the Corn Belt drowned out some corn and soybean fields, prompting producers to plan for re-planting.

The full report can be seen here