By Zoila Palma: El Niño is strengthening across the equatorial Pacific, putting farmers, agribusinesses and commodity markets across the United States and Latin America on alert as the 2026/27 agricultural season approaches.
The climate phenomenon could bring significant changes in rainfall and temperatures, affecting crops, livestock, water supplies, transportation and agricultural trade.
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported on August 13 that there is more than a 90 percent chance El Niño will become a very strong event during the Northern Hemisphere fall and winter of 2026-27.
Sea surface temperatures have already risen substantially across the Pacific, with July anomalies reaching 1.4°C in Niño 3.4, 1.7°C in Niño 3 and 2.9°C in Niño 1+2. NOAA estimates a 69 percent chance that the event could reach historic strength between October and December.
In the United States, farmers will closely monitor how El Niño influences weather across major agricultural regions.
NOAA’s seasonal outlook favors above-normal temperatures across much of the western and central United States during September through November, while precipitation patterns are expected to vary by region. Conditions could affect corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton and livestock, as well as soil moisture and preparations for the next planting season, Agro Latam reports.
Latin America faces a more varied outlook. Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay will be watching rainfall and soil moisture closely during the 2026/27 crop season, particularly in major soybean, corn, wheat, rice and livestock-producing areas.
Peru and Ecuador have greater exposure to conditions in the eastern Pacific, while parts of northern South America have historically experienced reduced rainfall during El Niño.
Central America and the Caribbean are also considered vulnerable, with FAO identifying areas where strong El Niño events have historically been associated with a greater than 50 percent probability of drought.
The potential impacts extend beyond farms to agricultural trade and commodity markets. Weather-related disruptions could affect supplies and prices for corn, soybeans, wheat, coffee, sugar and animal products while increasing transportation, feed and infrastructure costs.
However, a stronger El Niño does not automatically mean higher prices, as market reactions will depend on where production is affected, global inventories, competing harvests and international demand.
With El Niño developing alongside a warmer global climate, farmers and agribusinesses are being urged to prepare early.
Soil-moisture monitoring, seasonal forecasts, crop and livestock planning, water reserves, insurance and other climate-smart tools could help reduce risks.
FAO has emphasized that El Niño can often be anticipated months in advance, giving agricultural communities time to protect crops, livestock and infrastructure as the Americas prepare for potentially significant weather impacts through 2026 and into 2027.
The post International News: El Niño strengthens across Pacific, raising concerns for Agriculture across Americas appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: El Niño is strengthening across the equatorial Pacific, putting farmers, agribusinesses and commodity markets across the United States and Latin America on alert as the 2026/27 agricultural season approaches. The climate phenomenon could bring significant changes in rainfall and temperatures, affecting crops, livestock, water supplies, transportation and agricultural trade. The U.S. National
The post International News: El Niño strengthens across Pacific, raising concerns for Agriculture across Americas appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
