Soy complex prices eased a bit this week on better chances for precipitation across the driest parts of southern Brazil and Argentina over the next 10-14 days. Bob Kohlmeyer’s piece about La Nina and Argentine crop production (see Ag Perspectives, 14 December) explained the current situation quite well. The latest forecasts are important as there will be significant crop stress if the rains don’t materialize. While not drought-breakers, they will at least provide some cushion to topsoil moisture shortages. The two maps below show the precipitation anomalies for the period of 15 November-14 December and the eight-14 day precipitation forecast relative to “normal.”

The next map shows the 15-23 December temperatu...