Western Europe

A large, stationary area of high pressure over Eurasia prevented a series of Atlantic storm systems from exiting the continent to the east, resulting in persistent, locally heavy rainfall. In particular, moderate to heavy rain (25-100 mm, locally more) over southern France and northern Italy held-up maize and sunflower planting as well as winter wheat harvesting; reports from the European Severe Weather Database (ESWD) indicated as much as 420 mm in northern Italy, with resultant damage to crops and infrastructure. In Spain, late-season showers (10-35 mm) hampered winter grain maturation and early harvesting but added to soil moisture for irrigated summer crops. Rain returned to northern France and England after a much-needed dry spell, maintaining favorable prospects for recently planted spring grains and oilseeds. Rain also overspread northern Germany and the Low Countries, alleviating concerns over short-term dryness and improving soil moisture for vegetative to reproductive winter crops. Across eastern Europe, scattered showers in the Balkans provided relief from recent summer-like heat, while light showers (2- 10 mm) and above-normal temperatures (up to 4°C above normal) prevailed in Poland.

Eastern Europe

A summer-like weather pattern resulted in above-normal temperatures along with scattered showers and thunderstorms across most of the region. A large, stationary area of high pressure centered over western Kazakhstan and the southern Volga District maintained a hot, southerly flow. Temperatures averaged 5 to 10°C above normal, with daytime highs eclipsing 30°C (locally as high as 34°C) over most growing areas. The heat was also accompanied by scattered showers and thunderstorms, although amounts were highly variable. Totals were highest (10-50 mm) from central and eastern Ukraine into southwestern portions of Russia’s Southern District; in these key winter wheat areas, the rain provided much-needed soil moisture as crops approach ear emergence. Nevertheless, not all key crop regions received rainfall. Hot, mostly dry conditions stressed winter grains in northern portions of the Southern District as well as neighboring portions of the Central and Volga Districts. In particular, long- and short-term drought remained a concern in northern portions of the Southern District, where 90-day precipitation has totaled less than 50 percent of normal.

Australia

In southern Queensland and northern New South Wales, widespread showers (generally 5-25 mm) slowed summer crop harvesting and winter crop planting, but the rain helped winter crop germination and emergence. Farther south, widespread showers (generally 10-25 mm) in southeastern Australia provided a much-needed boost in topsoil moisture throughout a large portion of the wheat belt, aiding wheat, barley, and canola development. Because of the recent dryness in southeastern Australia, many farmers were reportedly waiting for rain to arrive before sowing winter grains and oilseeds. This rain likely triggered extensive planting in its wake. Elsewhere in the wheat belt, scattered showers (5-10 mm, locally more) in Western Australia continued to benefit winter grains and oilseeds, maintaining good early season crop prospects. Temperatures in the Australia wheat belt were generally seasonable, averaging within 1°C of normal in most areas with maximum temperatures in the upper teens to lower 20s degrees C in most areas.

Argentina

Cool, showery weather slowed fieldwork after more than a week of favorable warmth and dryness. Rain (greater than 10 mm) developed at mid-week in the main growing areas of central Argentina ahead of a cold front that ushered cooler weather into the region. Daytime highs in the lower and middle 20s (degrees C) at the beginning of the week gave way to highs in the teens, with freezing conditions recorded as far north as central Cordoba after the front’s passage. In the northeast (areas north and east of northern Santa Fe), heavier rain (25-100 mm) fell during the early part of the week, raising concern for quality of unharvested cotton in key production areas in and around eastern Chaco. According to Argentina’s Ministry of Agriculture, corn and soybeans were 61 and 85 percent harvested, respectively, ahead of last year’s pace for both crops.

Brazil

Showers increased moisture for immature crops in southern Brazil, as seasonal drying expanded farther north. Weekly temperatures averaged near to below normal in the south, with nighttime lows falling below 5°C in some farming areas and daytime highs below 25°. Warm, seasonably dry weather prevailed farther north, with little to no rain recorded from Mato Grosso and Sao Paulo to the northeastern interior. Daytime highs reached 35°C in traditionally warmer locations of Mato Grosso and Tocantins, hastening development of safrinha corn and cotton. Above normal temperatures were also recorded in the southeast (notably Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais), though less stressful warmth (daytime highs in the upper 20s and lower 30s degrees C) aided development of coffee, sugarcane, and citrus. Meanwhile, seasonal rains increased along the northeastern coast, providing moisture for sugarcane and cocoa.

East Asia

In April, seasonably dry weather prevailed for reproductive winter wheat on the North China Plain, although irrigation supplies remained adequate. April rainfall was confined to areas south of the Yangtze River and was generally below normal, prompting increased irrigation for spring rice and corn as well as early planted cotton. Ripening winter rapeseed, however, benefited from the drier-than-usual month. Meanwhile, cold, snowy weather in northeastern China prevented early field preparations but provided increasingly favorable soil moisture conditions.

USA

Corn: Warm weather and minimal precipitation across much of the major corn-producing region provided producers ample time for fieldwork during the week. By May 19, seventy-one percent of this year’s corn crop had been planted, 24 percentage points behind last year and 8 points behind the 5-year average. Aided by progress of 41 percentage points or more in seven of the top 12 producing states, planting advanced a record-tying 43 percentage points during the week. Nationally, 19 percent of the corn crop had emerged by week’s end, 54 percentage points behind last year and 27 points behind the 5-year average.

Soybeans: By week’s end, producers had planted 24 percent of the soybean crop. This was 47 percentage points behind last year and 18 points behind the 5-year average. With nearly a week of favorable weather, many producers in Illinois finished planting their corn and switched their focus to soybeans during the week. Nationwide, 3 percent of the soybean crop was emerged by May 19, twenty-nine percentage points behind last year and 11 points behind the 5-year average.

Winter Wheat: By week’s end, 43 percent of the winter wheat crop was at or beyond the heading stage. This was 37 percentage points behind last year and 19 points behind the 5-year average. In the Pacific Northwest, additional moisture was needed to aid crop development, despite a recent increase in precipitation. Overall, 31 percent of the winter wheat crop was reported in good to excellent condition, down slightly from last week and 27 percentage points below the same time last year. This represents the lowest good to excellent rating for this period since 2006, when 30 percent of the winter wheat crop was reported as good to excellent.