Weather report for the pulse-producing zones/
May 15-22

India

• India's south-western monsoon is predicted to arrive over the coming days, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) revising their initial prediction to somewhere around May 24-25 – the earliest beginning of monsoon season since 2009. 
• "Above-normal" monsoon predictions from the IMD have led to forecasts of record production this year. According to The Print, Maharashtra – a producer of black matpe and mung in kharif season – may see a rise in production of over 9%.

Russia

• May has seen drought throughout Russian crop land, according to Sergey Pluzhnikov of Russian Pulses Analytics.
• Areas of the Southern Federal District (Armavir & Labinsk) have seen 60% rain deficits YoY. Rostov and Stavropol regions have also seen 45% and 50% less rain YoY, respectively.
• Samara (55%), Orenburg (60%), Vorenezh (40%), Belgorod (30%) and Lipetsk (50%) have all seen significant percentage YoY reductions in rainfall.
• The Volga Federal District and Central Federal District have both seen "severe frosts", and red lentil seedings are delayed due to rains in Omsk.

USA

• Colorado and Nebraska "definitely need some rain" to help along the beginning of bean seeding season, according to Samuel Peck of Jack’s Bean International.
• "Timely field access and fair weather" have allowed North Dakota's dry edible pea and bean seedings to progress well, said North Dakota Ag Connection this week. As of May 21, dry edible beans in the state were at 34% planted.

Canada

• Saskatchewan farmers are "seeding fast and praying for rain," Seed World has reported. Seedings of peas, lentils, and chickpeas are at 70%, 71%, and 65% complete, respectively
• Warm temperatures and lack of rains have helped speed along the full seedings in Manitoba – according to Manitoba Agriculture, field pea seeding was at 96% complete as of May 21.
• Dry soils have allowed for advanced seeding in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, but topsoil moisture in Saskatchewan is believed to be short in around 38% of cropland. Seed World also reports Manitoba is experiencing low soil moisture "across much of the province."