In Living Color: Images Explain the “El Niño Neutral” Impact on Global Crops & Commodity Markets

In Living Color: Images Explain the “El Niño Neutral” Impact on Global Crops & Commodity Markets

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by Jim Roemer – Meteorologist – Commodity Trading Advisor – Principal, Best Weather Inc. & Climate Predict – Publisher, Weather Wealth Newsletter 

Scott Mathews, Editor

  • Weekend Report – May 9-11, 2025
  • Source: Screenshot by Climate Predict LLC – superimposed comments and markers by BestWeather – insert of Pacific Walker Circulation image by NOAA

While the grain futures have been mostly in a bear market, even with a weaker dollar, commodities from gold to cocoa and coffee continue in bull trends. Canola prices have really been perking up.

Potentially, there is a global weather problem as the drought in China is beginning to affect some crops in parts of southern Australia. 

Below, I discuss how weather and the El Niño neutral stage (neither El Niño or La Niña) is affecting every commodity from wheat to ideal Midwest corn belt weather, previous crop problems in West African cocoa and why global sugar weather is improving.  How about natural gas and a possible hot summer?

As a WeatherWealth newsletter subscriber, not only do you receive trading ideas, but you also see much more accurate weather information as we “second guess” standard weather models by looking at these 28 global weather teleconnections for all Ag and natural gas commodities.

—Enjoy Jim Roemer

Source: map by USDA

–  commentary and indicator arrows added by BestWeather

Source: price graph by Barchart.com

– indicator arrow and superimposed wording by BestWeather

  • Source:  screenshot by Climate Predict LLC
  • Source: screenshot by Climate Predict LLC with comments and indicator arrows superimposed by BestWeather
  • Source: map by Agri-Food Canada (a national information service)
  • Source: maps by stormvistawxmodels.com – used by permission- superimposed comment and indicator arrow by BestWeather

Source: map by WeatherBELL – used by permission

Sources: three screenshots above by Climate Predict LLC

– superimposed comments and indicator arrows by BestWeather

– antarctic polar projection map insert by NOAA, with superimposed markers by BestWeather

  • Source: maps by USDA, with indicator arrow superimposed by BestWeather
  • Source: map by WeatherBELL – used by permission
  • Source: maps by NOAA with superimposed labels and comments by BestWeather
  • Source: map by NOAA with superimposed arrow indicator by BestWeather
  • Sources: seasonality table by MRCI (used by permission), with superimposed elements by BestWeather- Map by stormvistawxmodels.com – used by permission – comments and indicators by BestWeather
  • Source: BestWeather Spider – royalty free natural gas flair photo by pexels.com 

https://www.bestweatherinc.com/new-membership-options/

  • Artwork created via AI software DALL-E 3 and is the property of BestWeather 

Thanks for your interest in commodity weather!!!

Mr. Roemer owns Best Weather Inc., offering weather-related blogs for commodity traders and farmers. He also is a co-founder of Climate Predict LLC, a detailed long-range global weather forecast tool. As one of the first meteorologists to become an NFA registered Commodity Trading Advisor, he has worked with major hedge funds, Midwest farmers, and individual traders for over 35 years. With a special emphasis on interpreting market psychology, coupled with his short and long-term trend forecasting in grains, softs, and the energy markets, he commands a unique standing among advisors in the commodity risk management industry. 

This article contains syndicated content. We have not reviewed, approved, or endorsed the content, and may receive compensation for placement of the content on this site. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.

Riding out hurricane Milton here in Sarasota, Florida

Riding out hurricane Milton here in Sarasota, Florida

click on video below of renowned meteorologist and commodity investing analyst Jim Roemer riding out the hurricane in Sarasota.

Windows being blown out of building and trees down. However, the situation for this area could have been a lot worse if Milton did not weaken at landfall. Though NOAA and others are saying it landed as a CAT 3 hurricane, sustained winds of around 80-90 MPH with gusts to 100 or so, was really a strong Cat 2. A big difference, though certainly many communities around Tampa, etc. had severe flooding. Tornadoes were the biggest threat in Florida (a record number)

FREE WEATHER WEALTH ISSUE: The bear market in grains, Brazil coffee drought & commodity trading ideas”

FREE WEATHER WEALTH ISSUE: The bear market in grains, Brazil coffee drought & commodity trading ideas”

Most recently, since June, we’ve stated our opinion that “fading” ALL computer models that suggested La Niña would form later this summer. In addition, all these summer grain market bulls “completely missed the boat” as our clients were advised about a potential collapse in corn and soybeans, as early as mid June on perfect summer corn belt weather!

How did we do that? First of all … standard GFS and European models are “free to the public.” You get what you pay for: erroneous models which often cannot forecast the weather accurately more than a few days in advance. 


My 40-year experience in “second-guessing” computer models and my understanding of market psychology comprise The Key

We also offer our in-house long-range weather software that all subscribers can access. It is called ClimatePredict (www.climatepredict.com). 

It performs analyses of the history and behavior of teleconnections and correlates agricultural commodity crop growing areas, while incorporating:

  • Arctic Sea Ice (or lack thereof);
  • Better prediction of El Niño or La Niña;
  • Ocean temperatures thousands of miles away,
  • Dozens of other phenomena, etc


Jim Roemer’s initial objective, back in June of $9.50 soybeans (from $11) and sub $4.00 corn, helped farmers hedge their production weeks ago and aided traders in adopting various futures and options strategies. In only a couple of months, one trade alone (just in grains) would have paid for my newsletter for several years. 

We are finally seeing the signs of potentially the first weather scare of the summer for some hot-dry weather. Is it time to buy corn and soybeans? Are the markets oversold?


Check out this complimentary issue of WeatherWealth. https://www.bestweatherinc.com/weather-wealth-sample/

This installment, early last week, discussed the following:
  

1) Fading computer models all summer, predicting record corn and soybean yields for Midwest grain farmers and the bear market (back in June). Will prices for soybeans reach $9?


2) Best Weather Spiders: How to use them to trade Ag and natural gas commodities


3) Why the next big bull market may be in coffee as extreme drought remains in Brazil & how recent coffee market volatility based on varying weather forecasts from the recent very light Brazil frost


4) Why our bearish outlook in sugar prices from 21 cents predicting a great Indian Monsoon has now been scaled back 


5) Climate Predict: BestWeather’s in-house weather and crop production model for global commodities (free with an annual subscription to WeatherWealth)


6) Trade ideas from grains to soft commodities and natural gas

Thanks for your interest in commodity weather!

Jim Roemer, Scott Mathews, and The Weather Wealth Team 

Mr. Roemer owns Best Weather Inc., offering weather-related blogs for commodity traders and farmers. He also is a co-founder of Climate Predict, a detailed long-range global weather forecast tool. As one of the first meteorologists to become an NFA registered Commodity Trading Advisor, he has worked with major hedge funds, Midwest farmers, and individual traders for over 35 years. With a special emphasis on interpreting market psychology, coupled with his short and long-term trend forecasting in grains, softs, and the energy markets, he established a unique standing among advisors in the commodity risk management industry.

Trading futures and options involves a significant risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. 

“No La Niña? Using teleconnections last April to out-predict computer models: Implications for commodities and the hurricane season.

“No La Niña? Using teleconnections last April to out-predict computer models: Implications for commodities and the hurricane season.

by Jim Roemer – Meteorologist – Commodity Trading Advisor – Principal, Best Weather Inc. & Climate Predict – Publisher, Weather Wealth Newsletter 

  • Mid-Week Advisory – August 7, 2024

In the coming weeks, I will have a special report about A.I. technology, weather forecasting, and commodity trading. You can sign up here to receive that and see a previous Weather Wealth report (from June), when I became bearish on corn and soybeans, based on my summer weather forecast for good Midwest crops and No La Niña. 


So… how did we “out-forecast” all of the other weather firms and even some A.I. models that La Nina would not form this summer and that we would have a bear market in grains and excellent crops? 

What most computer models miss is something we call “connecting the teleconnections.” The lion’s share of weather models uses ocean temperatures and local current conditions in thousands of cities to create algorithms that go into the European and GFS weather models. While these models have improved, thus allowing NOAA and many similar agencies to make fairly accurate weather forecasts, they often miss commodity weather more than two weeks in advance.

 Teleconnections “connect” the dots between ocean temperatures and weather patterns thousands of miles away.

As you can see from my in-house program ClimatePredict (one of the few weather models in the world that incorporates teleconnections and historical weather trends), my prediction last April was that July was going to be great for most midwest corn and soybean crops. That will continue over 80% of the Midwest grain belt through August. Our one concern is the dryness for Kansas and wet weather delaying spring wheat harvesting in Russia.

My program has also been predicting improved global weather for sugar. soybeans, corn and potential cocoa crops going deeper into 2024 and 2025.


Anyway, at least two-thirds of the above-mentioned years that had many similar summer weather conditions in the Northern Hemisphere did not transition to La Nina until after October or not at all. Now, two to three months later, many models (such as the European) are not predicting that La Nina will form at all this year. How about that?

In addition, Warm ocean temperatures in the western Equatorial Pacific has resulted in the SOI (Southern Oscillation Index) being negative off and on this summer. This has cut down on the chance of La Nina, anytime soon.

This could have huge implications on commodities and possibly also suggest the hurricane season will NOT be as active as NOAA and many other services have been suggesting. Still, historic record warm ocean temperatures portend that one of two hurricanes later this fall could still explode into at least a cat 4.

Source: WeatherWealth newsletter

Thanks for your interest in commodity weather!

Jim Roemer, Scott Mathews, and The Weather Wealth Team 

Mr. Roemer owns Best Weather Inc., offering weather-related blogs for commodity traders and farmers. He also is a co-founder of Climate Predict, a detailed long-range global weather forecast tool. As one of the first meteorologists to become an NFA registered Commodity Trading Advisor, he has worked with major hedge funds, Midwest farmers, and individual traders for over 35 years. With a special emphasis on interpreting market psychology, coupled with his short and long-term trend forecasting in grains, softs, and the energy markets, he established a unique standing among advisors in the commodity risk management industry.

Trading futures and options involves a significant risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. 

As Predicted in April: No La Niña Summer & Negative AO Index Means Huge Corn and Soybean Crops

As Predicted in April: No La Niña Summer & Negative AO Index Means Huge Corn and Soybean Crops

Farming - Dirt road through fields by Julian Ebert via Unsplash

(ZCU24) (ZCZ24) (CORN) (ZSU24) (ZSX24) (SOYB) 

by Jim Roemer – Meteorologist – Commodity Trading Advisor – Principal, Best Weather Inc. & Climate Predict – Publisher, Weather Wealth Newsletter 

It is already well known that U.S. corn yields may surpass 180 bushels per acre and for soybeans, at least 51 bushels per acre. There still continues to be some amateur meteorologists and/or advisory services out there that are talking about everything from hot/dry western corn belt weather, to drought in Ukraine, flooding to Russia’s spring wheat crop, hoping for a bull market.  Sorry, Folks … it is     n o t    g o i n g    t o    h a p p e n     at any time soon. 

In addition, La Niña may be super weak later this year and does NOT necessarily portend major weather problems for southern Brazil or Argentina after November. 

Presently, notice how the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) is negative (El Niño like). The SOI index is a major climatological variable that influences the formation of La Niña or El Niño. The index needs to be positive for 2-3 months for NOAA to officially claim a La Niña is present. When that happens, low pressure sets up over Australia and high pressure near Tahiti. The Trade Winds then blow strong from east to west over the equator bringing cooler waters further west. As you can see, there are still warm waters to the east of Australia.

To make matters worse, if a narcissistic pathological liar gets elected as President… one who only cares about himself, not about you! (you know who I am talking about), and, if you are a farmer, then there are more problems ahead for lower grain prices. You are not only going to have to contend with storage of a record 2024 corn and soybean crop, demand worries from China but a possible Trade War with China. 
 

With regards to the weather, we told our WeatherWealth clients late last week… 

(see here https://www.bestweatherinc.com/new-membership-options/

…that stratospheric warming (39-50 miles up above the atmosphere) was going to force the Arctic Oscillation Index to go negative. This is a warm block aloft, above the western Arctic circle that is going to push cool fronts over the Midwest the next 2 weeks and result in more ample rain and NO extreme heat. 

Combine the negative AO index and NO La Niña yet and you have the continuation of mostly ideal weather in August for Midwest crops.

Thanks for your interest in commodity weather!

Jim Roemer, Scott Mathews, and The Weather Wealth Team 

Mr. Roemer owns Best Weather Inc., offering weather-related blogs for commodity traders and farmers. He also is a co-founder of Climate Predict, a detailed long-range global weather forecast tool. As one of the first meteorologists to become an NFA registered Commodity Trading Advisor, he has worked with major hedge funds, Midwest farmers, and individual traders for over 35 years. With a special emphasis on interpreting market psychology, coupled with his short and long-term trend forecasting in grains, softs, and the energy markets, he established a unique standing among advisors in the commodity risk management industry.

Trading futures and options involves a significant risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.