Crop Monitor for AMIS

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No. 144: Published November 5th 2026

Conditions as of October 28th

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Overview

At the end of October, overall conditions are positive for wheat, maize, rice, and soybeans. Wheat conditions are generally favourable; winter wheat continues to develop in the Southern Hemisphere, and sowing continues in the Northern Hemisphere. Maize conditions are favourable, as harvest progresses in the Northern Hemisphere and sowing expands in the Southern Hemisphere. Rice conditions are favourable, with harvest ongoing in China and for India’s Kharif season. Soybean harvesting is continuing in the Northern Hemisphere, with good yields expected in the US and poor yields in Europe.

Global crop condition map synthesizing information for all four AMIS crops as of October 28th. Crop conditions over the main growing areas for wheat, maize, rice, and soybean are based on a combination of national and regional crop analyst inputs and Earth observation data. Crops under non-favourable conditions are displayed on the map using their crop symbols.

Crop Conditions at a Glance

Wheat – Conditions are generally favourable in the Southern Hemisphere as harvesting begins. In the Northern Hemisphere, winter wheat sowing is progressing.

Maize – Harvesting is progressing in the Northern Hemisphere as sowing picks up pace in the Southern Hemisphere.

Rice – Harvesting is progressing in China and for India’s Kharif season, along with wet-season rice in northern Southeast Asia and dry-season rice in southern Southeast Asia.

Soybeans – In the Northern Hemisphere, the harvest is wrapping up under poor conditions in Europe, while exceptional in the US.

Forecasts at a Glance

Climate Influences – Strong El Niño conditions are present and strengthening. The event will likely be very strong and rank among the strongest since 1950. El Niño conditions are forecast through April 2027 (98% chance). A positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) event is underway and forecast through December.

Europe - During November-December-January 2026/27, precipitation is likely to be above-average across much of Europe, while temperatures are also likely to be above-average.

South Africa - The November–December–January (NDJ) 2026/27 forecast indicates drier and warmer-than-average conditions, which will likely negatively impact crops.

United States – The November forecast supports the likely improvement or removal of drought conditions across large portions of the southern and western US.

Wheat Conditions

Wheat crop conditions over the main growing areas are based on national and regional crop analyst inputs and earth observation data. Crop condition information is based on information as of October 28th. Where crops are in conditions other than favourable, the climatic drivers responsible are displayed. Crop Season Specific Maps are in Appendix 2.

In the EU, sowing of the 2026/2027 crop is ongoing under contrasting conditions, with drought hampering crop emergence across southern and central Europe, while excess rainfall delays sowing in the Baltic states. In Ukraine, conditions are favourable for the 2026/2027 winter wheat crop, though development is slightly behind normal due to late sowing. The total sown area is expected to be lower than last year. In the Russian Federation, conditions are favourable as sowing of the 2026/2027 winter wheat crop has caught up after some initial delays. In Kazakhstan, spring wheat harvesting is wrapping up under favourable conditions. In Türkiye, winter wheat sowing is ongoing. In the US, 2026/2027 winter wheat sowing is progressing, with recent rains easing drought in parts of the Central and Southern Plains. In Canada, winter wheat sowing is beginning under favourable conditions. In Australia, harvesting is ongoing, with above-average yields expected in South Australia and Victoria, while Queensland expects below-average yields. In Argentina, conditions are favourable as harvesting is beginning in the north.

For detailed description of the pie chart please see box at the bottom of the page. 

Maize Conditions

Maize crop conditions over the main growing areas are based on national and regional crop analyst inputs and earth observation data. Crop condition information is based on information as of October 28th, 2026. Where crops are in conditions other than favourable, the climatic drivers responsible are displayed. Crop Season Specific Maps are in Appendix 2.

In the US, harvest is ongoing under mostly favourable to exceptional conditions. In Canada, harvesting is beginning, with good yields expected in Ontario, the main producing province. In Mexico, hot and dry weather is affecting the spring-summer crop (larger season). In China, harvesting is wrapping up for both the spring-maize crop (larger season) and the summer-maize crop (smaller season). In India, the Kharif crop (larger season) harvest is progressing under mixed conditions due to a below-average Southwest Monsoon. In Indonesia, harvesting continues for the dry-season crop as the wet-season crop begins to be sown. In the EU, the harvest is wrapping up, with generally below-average yields due to hot, dry weather throughout the season. In Ukraine, the harvest is slowly progressing, with mixed yields expected due to drought and high temperatures in the western regions. In the Russian Federation, harvesting is continuing, with good yields expected. In Brazil, sowing of the spring-planted crop (smaller season) is progressing, with the total sown area expected to be higher than last season.

For detailed description of the pie chart please see box at the bottom of the page. 

Rice Conditions

Rice crop conditions over the main growing areas are based on national and regional crop analyst inputs and earth observation data. Crop condition information is based on information as of October 28th, 2026. Where crops are in conditions other than favourable, the climatic drivers responsible are displayed. Crop Season Specific Maps are in Appendix 2.

In China, harvesting continues for single-season rice (largest season) and late double-crop rice (medium season) under favourable conditions. In India, Kharif harvesting is progressing in the northern states, while the crop continues to develop in the eastern and southern states. In Bangladesh, conditions are favourable for the Aman crop (medium season). In Indonesia, dry-season rice harvesting continues, and sowing for wet-season rice is beginning. In Viet Nam, wet-season rice harvesting is underway in the north, where flooding and waterlogging during earlier growth stages have adversely affected yields. In the south, the harvest is finishing for summer-autumn rice (wet-season rice), while harvesting begins for autumn-winter rice and seasonal rice. In Thailand, drought and recent flooding have adversely affected wet-season rice yields. Total sown area is lower than last year. In the Philippines, wet-season rice harvesting is ongoing under mixed conditions due to heavy rains and strong winds from the enhanced southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones. In Japan, harvesting is finishing under generally favourable conditions. In Brazil, sowing is continuing.

For detailed description of the pie chart please see box at the bottom of the page. 

Soybean Conditions

Soybean crop conditions over the main growing areas are based on national and regional crop analyst inputs and earth observation data. Crop condition information is based on information as of October 28th. Where crops are in conditions other than favourable, the climatic drivers responsible for those conditions are displayed. Crop Season Specific Maps are in Appendix 2.

In the US, the harvest is progressing with above-average yields expected in parts of the central Corn Belt and along the East Coast. In Canada, the harvest is advancing under favourable conditions, with total sown area up compared to last year and the average. In China, harvesting is wrapping up under favourable conditions. In India, the harvest continues under mixed conditions because of long dry spells from a below-average Southwest Monsoon. In Ukraine, the harvest is finishing, with yields expected to be below average because precipitation was below-average and temperatures were above-average during the season. In Brazil, sowing is just progressing under favourable conditions, with an estimated slight increase in total area compared to last season.

For detailed description of the pie chart please see box at the bottom of the page. 

Pie chart description: Each slice represents a country's share of total AMIS production (5-year average). Main producing countries (representing 95 percent of production) are shown individually, with the remaining 5 percent grouped into the “Other AMIS Countries” category. The proportion within each national slice is coloured according to the crop conditions within a specific growing area; grey indicates that the respective area is out of season. Sections within each slice are weighted by the sub-national production statistics (5-year average) of the respective country. The section within each national slice also accounts for multiple cropping seasons (i.e., spring and winter wheat). When conditions are other than’ favourable’, icons are added that provide information on the key climatic drivers affecting conditions.

Information on crop conditions in non-AMIS countries can be found in the GEOGLAM Crop Monitor for Early Warning.

Climate Influences: El Niño & Positive IOD Advisory

Strong El Niño conditions are present and strengthening. The event will likely be very strong from September 2026 to January 2027 (>96% chance, according to the October 2026 NOAA ENSO outlook) and rank among the strongest since 1950. El Niño conditions are forecast through April 2027 (98% chance).

El Niño events tend to enhance rainfall in parts of Asia (Central Asia, southwestern Asia, and eastern China), southern North America, southeastern South America, and eastern and southern East Africa. Drier-than-average conditions tend to occur across Central America, northern South America, Southern Africa, the Maritime Continent, and western and northern Australia.

Location and timing of likely above- and below-average precipitation related to El Niño events. Based upon observed precipitation during 22 El Niño events since 1950, wet and dry correspond to a statistically significant increase in the frequency of precipitation in the upper and lower thirds of historical values, respectively. Statistical significance at the 95% level is based on the resampling of precipitation during neutral El Niño-Southern Oscillation conditions. Source: FEWS NET & NOAA & CHC

A positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) event is underway. IOD index values from the Bureau of Meteorology have ranged from +0.88 to +0.69 in recent weeks. Positive IOD conditions are forecast through December. A positive IOD typically enhances the drying influence of El Niño in Australia and the Maritime Continent and increases the chances of an above-average East Africa short rains season.

The timing of wet and dry conditions based on Climate Research Unit, CHIRPS, and Global Precipitation Climatology Centre precipitation (green and brown polygons), and sea surface temperature departures from average during July September (blue and red shading), related to the IOD. The regions used to define the Dipole Mode Index are outlined in black.

September 2026 was the second-warmest September for global temperatures. Annual average temperatures for 2026 may be similar to 2024, the current warmest year on record, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service Climate Bulletin. The very strong El Niño will continue to increase the likelihood of extreme conditions. 

During late October through early November 2026, abnormally hot temperatures are forecast in active crop development areas of southern and eastern Mexico, Central America, Haiti, central Brazil, southern West Africa, Sudan, Somalia, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, northern Mozambique, northern South Africa, Pakistan, western and southern India, and parts of Southeast Asia.

CHC AgriHeat Forecast for  October 29 to November 12, 2026. Forecast 15-day average maximum temperatures are shown where they will be abnormally hot (Tmax > 80th percentile and > 30 C) and in active crop-growing areas. Areas with forecasted below-average rainfall for this period are also identified. Based on a 15-day CHIRTS-GEFS forecast from June 26, 2026. From UCSB Climate Hazards Center. Map source: UCSB Climate Hazards Center

Global Two-week Precipitation Forecast

The two-week forecast (Figure 1) shows a chance of above-average precipitation over the western and southern US, Cuba, western Ecuador, southern Peru, southeast Brazil, central Chile, central west Argentina, Portugal, western Spain, northwestern France, southeastern Poland, southern Belarus, eastern Ukraine, Albania, Greece, Türkiye, Georgia, Armenia, the southern and central Russian Federation, Syria, northern Iraq, central west Iran, southwestern Algeria, western Morocco, western Tanzania, northeastern Zambia, Malawi, northern Mozambique, Madagascar, central Namibia, western and southern Kazakhstan, eastern Uzbekistan, western Kyrgyzstan, western Tajikistan, eastern Turkmenistan, northern Afghanistan, northeastern India, eastern Bangladesh, Myanmar, northern and central Thailand, Laos, northern Viet Nam, Cambodia, southern China, and northeastern Australia.

There is also a risk of below-average precipitation over Canada, the northern US, southern Mexico, southern Guatemala, El Salvador, western Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, eastern Ecuador, northern and eastern Peru, northern Bolivia, northern Brazil, southern Chile, the northern UK, western Norway, central Finland, Guinea-Bissau, southern Ghana, northeastern Nigeria, northern Cameroon, southern Chad, northern and western Gabon, the northern Republic of the Congo, northwestern Angola, northern Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, western and northern Kenya, Somalia, eastern Tanzania, southern Iran, southern India, Sri Lanka, northern China, the eastern Russian Federation, southern and central Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea.

Figure 1: IRI SubX Precipitation Biweekly Probability Forecast for 7 – 20 November 2026, issued on 30 October 2026. The forecast is based on statistically calibrated tercile category forecasts from three SubX models. Source: IRI Subseasonal Forecasts Maproom

Europe Outlook

As of the middle of October, drought alerts exist over parts of southern Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, eastern Croatia, southern Czechia, France, southwestern Germany, northern Greece, Hungary, northwestern and southeastern Italy, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, southern Slovakia, eastern Slovenia, northern Spain, southern Sweden, northern and western Switzerland, eastern and western Ukraine, and the southern United Kingdom. Additionally, drought warnings are in effect in most countries.

The November-December-January 2026/27 precipitation forecast indicates likely above-average rainfall across most of Europe, except eastern Spain, Italy, Greece, Macedonia, Bulgaria, eastern Romania, Moldova, and southwestern Türkiye. The above-average precipitation should ease or prevent drought from worsening in most areas. Temperatures during November-December-January 2026/27 are likely to be above-average.

Top: 11-20 October 2026 drought conditions over Europe from the European Drought Observatory. Bottom Left: November-December-January 2026/27 precipitation probability forecast. Bottom Right: November-December-January 2026/27 temperature probability forecast. Maps from the Copernicus Climate Change Service

South Africa Outlook

The November–December–January (NDJ) 2026/27 precipitation forecast indicates likely below-average precipitation over most of the country, particularly the interior summer-rainfall region. Additionally, minimum and maximum temperatures are likely to be above-average across most of the country. This period also coincides with the planting of summer crops, which primarily depend on rainfall. The forecast for drier, warmer summer conditions is likely to negatively affect crops.

Top: Seasonal rainfall outlook for November–December–January (NDJ) 2026/27. Bottom Left: Seasonal minimum-temperature outlook for NDJ 2026/27. Bottom Right: Seasonal maximum-temperature outlook for NDJ 2026/27. Maps from the South Africa Weather Service

United States Outlook

The November 2026 precipitation forecast indicates likely above-average precipitation over much of the country, with the highest likelihood over the Southwest, Central and Northern Plains, and Upper Mississippi Valley, while below-average precipitation is likely over parts of the Great Lakes and the Northern Rockies.  At the same time, temperatures are likely to be above average across most of the country except for the Southwest and the Southern Plains, where chances are about equal for above and below-average temperatures.

Based upon November’s weather outlook, drought conditions are likely to improve or be removed across parts of the Southwest, Pacific Coast, southern Rocky Mountains, most of the Great Plains, Mississippi Delta, the Southeast, and the Upper Mississippi Valley. Drought conditions are likely to remain unchanged across the remaining regions.

Upper Left: November 2026 precipitation outlook issued on 31 October 2026. Upper Right: November 2026 temperature outlook issued on 31 October 2026. Bottom: November 2026 drought outlook released on 31 October 2026. Maps from NOAA CPC and NOAA/National Weather Service, National Centers for Environmental Prediction, and Climate Prediction Center.