It is estimated that a modest improvement of 500,000 tonnes will be achieved compared to February estimates, which represents a relief for the agricultural sector. However, “the outlook for late corn is bleak due to an unusual outbreak of a disease transmitted by the leafhopper”which has reached regions as far south as Córdoba and Santa Fe, causing significant damage to crops, the entity warns.
This could disrupt the Government’s plans, since the greater income of foreign currency from the countryside constitutes one of the main factors that motivate the economic team in that the expectations of a recomposition of the Central Bank’s reserves for the current year.
Soybeans for the 2023/24 season register a change of fortune with the late rains, that have improved grain filling conditions, especially in the first varieties. Despite this boost, national performance has barely seen a slight increase, standing at 30.2 quintals per hectare.
“A total harvest of 50 million tons is projected, which represents a modest but encouraging increase over the previous cycle.“warns the BCR document.
Santa Fe and Córdoba’s performance picks up
The Santa Fe and Córdoba regions lead the rebound in soybean yields, with significant improvements compared to February. However, the report warns that, “In Entre Ríos there is a significant drop, attributable to the poor performance of second-class varieties.“. Likewise, it warns that northern Argentina still faces challenges with intermittent rains, which could limit yields in the coming weeks.
Corn worries
On the other hand, the document indicates that “the situation for corn is worrying“, with barely 3% progress in the harvest nationwide, well below the average for this time of year. Yields in the core region have been disappointing, with values below expectations due to the “slimming” of grains caused by the heat wave.
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However, the report indicates that the most alarming “is the appearance of a disease transmitted by the leafhopper“, known as spiroplasmawhich is wreaking havoc on late corn in Córdoba and Santa Fe. This sudden outbreak has led to massive losses in some fields, with estimates suggesting a significant decline in corn production for this season.
Despite these adversities, the February projections are maintained, with an average yield of 76.9 quintals per hectare and an estimated total production of 57 million tons of corn for the 2023/24 cycle.
However, uncertainty remains high, as the full effects of the outbreak spiroplasma have not yet been fully seenand farmers are concerned about the continued impact of unpredictable weather conditions on their crops.
Source: Ambito
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