12/01/08 Crop weather around the world

Farm and Ranch December 1, 2008 What might 2009 hold in store weather wise for some of the world's large wheat producers and/or export competitors to the United States? Retired Creighton University climatologist Dr. Art Douglas gave an outlook during a recent visit to the Pacific Northwest. Douglas: "Well, in terms of China they had a pretty, good wet summer so therefore their subsoil moisture situation is really good. So far in the fall they have had relatively normal rainfall. I don't see any problem in China. India had a very good monsoon, had a very good crop. On the other hand they have kind of turned on the dry side in the northwest wheat areas of India. Australia unfortunately is still in the grips of a drought. Maybe not as what it was last year. Definitely not as bad as what it was this past June. On the other hand it doesn't look like there is going to be much change in Australia. And if they have an El Nino they would turn dry again." And Douglas sees a chance of an El Nino next summer. And while that could create problems for Australia, Douglas says it could help end the severe drought in Argentina. What about the Black Sea region? Douglas: "They turned super dry in the summer and lo and behold they turned it around and have had some pretty good moisture and so things are looking okay in the Black Sea area. It has also been very warm in Russia and the Ukraine and this is very positive for winter wheat." Douglas will be back in the northwest at the Pacific Northwest Farm Forum in Spokane in February. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.