METEOROLOGICAL experts warn that the delay of corn and wheat crops harvest could adversely impact the upcoming planting season, especially in regions grappling with low soil moisture levels following a severe drought during the 2022 to 2023 season.
The planting of corn for the 2023 to 2024 cycle is slated to begin in September, but uncertainty looms over the availability of adequate water supply during this crucial period.
The Rosario Stock Exchange or BCR acknowledges the likelihood of a milder El Niño compared to previous occurrences, yet it aligns with the consensus that rainfall will commence from October onwards.
Concerns arise over potential corn yield losses, with the BCR’s initial estimate of a 56 million metric ton harvest for 2023 to 2024 at risk due to potential planting delays or abandonment by farmers grappling with water scarcity.
The Buenos Aires grains exchange corroborates the worrisome outlook by reporting adverse effects on the wheat crops slated for the 2023 to 2024 season.
The exchange identifies “restrictive humidity conditions” across the central and northern agricultural regions of Argentina, resulting in compromised crop conditions and loss of reproductive structures.
Despite these challenges, the exchange maintains its forecast of a 15.6 million ton wheat harvest from a planted area of 5.4 million hectares.
With only light rains reported recently in Argentina’s core agricultural area, as indicated by the country’s National Meteorological Service, the looming question remains whether the forthcoming planting season will provide the necessary conditions for successful corn and wheat cultivation.
