05/30/05 A check on world crop weather

Farm and Ranch May 30, 2005 Dryness in southwestern Europe continues to be a focus of international crop watchers. USDA meteorologist Mark Brusberg explains. Brusberg: "The one big area that we are watching in Europe is the Iberian Peninsula. It has been very dry. Continues to be dry in Spain and Portugal that has affected winter wheat and summer crop planting." Elsewhere in the northern hemisphere, Brusberg says its been cool in Canada. Brusberg: "They have planted their crops. They just need the heating units now to get things going both in the spring wheat belt and the corn and soybean areas of Ontario and Quebec." Brusberg says in the southern hemisphere Australia is the big story. Brusberg: "They recently had some very beneficial rain. That rain ended a protracted dry spell. So, there is still long term dryness in eastern Australia but the showers they had helped condition the fields so they can start planting. Really what they need is the continuation of beneficial rain from this point on. Western Australia is doing fairly well. I think the issue in Australia this year is that there is a debate about whether or not we are going to have an El Nino which could impact them. That is something we are just going to have to watch." Brusberg says September is a key month for Australia. The north China Plain did get some moisture which helped the filling of winter wheat there. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.