For South America our main focus is the developing second crop of corn. From planting through the vegetative growth stage, January through mid-March, rains were -37% from normal. Mid-March to current rains, pollination to early kernel fill, have run -5% from normal. However, it must be noted the past two weeks with that seven-week count were problems at -60% and -71% from normal. The two-week forecast suggests this drier pattern to continue.
The long harvest runs from June - September.
Most of Brazil's soybean harvest has been conducted without a problem. Heavy recent rains have gotten the trade's interest for the far Southern state of Rio Grande do Sul.