The long-range weather forecast looks favorable for major grain crops in the U.S. in the coming year.
Good growing conditions in the U.S. Midwest would be good news for a poultry industry that has had its share of troubles in 2008, and this is what was heard from a long-range weather forecaster this week.
No drought was predicted. It may be a little cooler and wetter than normal this winter and early spring in the Plains states and Midwest Corn Belt, according to Drew Lerner, president of World Weather, Inc.
A number of factors influenced his forecast for this winter and for the 2009 growing season. Lerner combined the affects of the sun spot cycle, a possible La Nina in the Pacific, the Arctic oscillation, the Pacific decadal oscillation, and other long-term cycles.
Putting all of these affects together, Lerner, who gave his weather forecast for 2009 at the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association’s Grain Forecast and Economic Outlook Conference, said that he does not expect drought conditions to negatively impact the major grain crops in the U.S. in 2009.
The colder weather this winter and early spring may give natural gas prices a boost this winter, according to Lerner. Poultry producers might not mind high natural gas prices as long as corn and soybean prices stay below the levels reached this past summer.
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