Season advisory
El Niño Advisory 2026/27
A below-normal rainfall season is manageable with the right variety, the right planting date and disciplined moisture conservation. Here is what we recommend.
What it means for your field
Plan for a shorter, less reliable rainfall window
El Niño years typically shift the onset of rains later and increase the chance of mid-season dry spells. The single biggest lever a farmer controls is variety maturity length.
-
Adjust your planting window
Wait for at least 25 mm of effective rain before planting, and avoid planting long-season hybrids after the normal cut-off date. If you miss the window, switch to an ultra-early variety rather than planting late with a late line.
-
Conserve every millimetre
Basin planting, mulching with crop residue, contour ridging and reduced tillage all extend the number of days your crop can survive between rain events. Weed early | weeds compete for water before they compete for nutrients.
-
Spread your risk
Split your land between two maturity classes, and consider a sorghum or cowpea block as an insurance crop. Reduce seeding density slightly on sandy soils to lower total crop water demand.
Seasonal updates
El Niño newsletters
Read and download the latest seasonal outlooks, agronomy guidance and practical recommendations from Seed Co.
Filtered tool
Variety Finder | drought filter applied
Refine by your region and planting window with the drought-resilient filter already switched on.
Available varieties
Early warning
Seasonal advisories, straight to your inbox
Sign up for email advisories: rainfall onset updates, dry-spell warnings and variety switch recommendations for your region.