# Preparing for a Dry Summer: NZ Soil Scientist Dr Gordon Rajendram on Forecasts, Feed and Farm Risk - NZ Business Connect

> Earth Sciences New Zealand’s late-October outlook identifies a very strong El Niño as the main climate influence through January and gives Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa a 55% chance of below-normal rainfall. The outlook also points to warmer conditions and says El Niño may persist into April or May 2027, leaving dry conditions a concern into autumn; confidence in the dry signal is relatively high for the east of the North Island but lower nationally.

- Date: 2026-11-06 · published 2026-11-06T18:49:28.479Z
- Category: weather · region New Zealand · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/84792-preparing-for-a-dry-summer-nz-soil-scientist-dr-gordon-rajendram-on-forecasts
- Commodities: [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md), [Soybeans](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SOY.md), [Wheat (SRW)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/WHEAT.md), [Palm Oil](https://feedsoft.ai/c/PALMOIL.md)

## Why it matters

Below-normal rainfall could reduce pasture growth and increase the need for purchased feed in eastern North Island, potentially raising feed costs for affected farms; the article gives no specific commodity price forecast.

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CORN | 2026-04-22 | [Chicago soy rises as oil prices climb, rain forecast threatens Midwest planting - Markets - Business Recorder](https://feedsoft.ai/events/19752-chicago-soy-rises-as-oil-prices-climb-rain-forecast-threatens-midwest-planting.md) | +1.6% | +4.3% |
| CORN | 2018-06-12 | [Weather forecast: Summer Corn Belt weather outlook seen as promising \| 2018-06-12  \| Food Business News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/64464-weather-forecast-summer-corn-belt-weather-outlook-seen-as-promising-2018-06-12.md) | -2.1% | -4.6% |
| CORN | 2025-05-29 | [Summer Forecast for US: Still Hot and Dry Despite Wet Spring](https://feedsoft.ai/events/24590-summer-forecast-for-us-still-hot-and-dry-despite-wet-spring.md) | -1.0% | -6.3% |
| CORN | 2024-08-26 | [Hot and Dry Weather Forecast for Central Brazil's Planting Season](https://feedsoft.ai/events/13550-hot-and-dry-weather-forecast-for-central-brazil-s-planting-season.md) | +2.6% | +6.4% |
| CORN | 2021-01-05 | [Dry weather expected to keep pressuring Argentine soy, corn yields - Markets - Business Recorder](https://feedsoft.ai/events/48999-dry-weather-expected-to-keep-pressuring-argentine-soy-corn-yields-markets.md) | +3.1% | +14.6% |
| SOY | 2026-04-22 | [Chicago soy rises as oil prices climb, rain forecast threatens Midwest planting - Markets - Business Recorder](https://feedsoft.ai/events/19752-chicago-soy-rises-as-oil-prices-climb-rain-forecast-threatens-midwest-planting.md) | -0.1% | +3.0% |
| SOY | 2018-06-12 | [Weather forecast: Summer Corn Belt weather outlook seen as promising \| 2018-06-12  \| Food Business News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/64464-weather-forecast-summer-corn-belt-weather-outlook-seen-as-promising-2018-06-12.md) | -4.7% | -10.6% |
| SOY | 2025-05-29 | [Summer Forecast for US: Still Hot and Dry Despite Wet Spring](https://feedsoft.ai/events/24590-summer-forecast-for-us-still-hot-and-dry-despite-wet-spring.md) | -0.3% | -2.5% |

## Sources

- nzbusinessconnect.co.nz: https://nzbusinessconnect.co.nz/news/preparing-for-a-dry-summer-nz-soil-scientist-dr-gordon-rajendram-on-forecasts-feed-and-farm-risk/

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.