Argentina Drying To Favor Fieldwork; Mid-Month Rain Needed
By Andrew Owen and Drew Lerner
Kansas City, December 3 (World Weather Inc.) – Weather conditions in Argentina have been favorable to support fieldwork and crop development recently. A large portion of Argentina will trend drier during the next seven days. The drier tendency will be ideal for promoting additional planting of summer crops and the harvest of winter grain. Eventually, the ground will firm up enough to warrant a boost in precipitation so that no area 
becomes too dry. The situation will be closely monitored during mid-month since any additional dry weather may introduce a little crop stress and some market concern over crop conditions. World Weather, Inc. expects additional timely rain to prevent any serious bouts of dryness from evolving, but the situation will still need to be watched.
Timely rain was reported in much of Argentina during the past week. Rain totals for the seven day period ending Thursday morning ranged from 0.80 to 2.90 inches with a few exceptions. Much of northern Cordoba and western Santiago del Estero reported less than 0.50 inch of rain and those areas are already a little dry. Portions of western and northwestern Buenos Aires also only received up to 0.50 inch of rain. Highest temperatures during the past week were in the 80s and lower 90s Fahrenheit with warmer pockets in the north.
Topsoil moisture is rated adequate to excessive in a large portion of Argentina. Northeastern Argentina through Santa Fe has the most abundant moisture, along with San Luis and neighboring areas in southwestern Cordoba. Fieldwork may have been slowed at times during the past week due to the wet conditions. In contrast, northern Cordoba and western Santiago del Estero have a shortage of moisture. A few pockets in western Buenos Aires also have a minor shortage of moisture in the topsoil. Not much rain is needed for these areas to fix the 
moisture deficits and the environment is still considered nearly ideal for crop development and fieldwork.
Planting of early corn and sunseed should be winding down, but late season corn, soybeans and sorghum will continue to be planted for a few more weeks. Peanut planting is still under way, but should be winding down soon. Cotton will also continue to be planted for a while in the far north.
Winter wheat harvesting is under way in central and some southern portions of Argentina. Harvesting normally begins mid-November and continues through January and reports from a week ago suggested 20% of the crop had been harvested. Harvest operations were likely slowed by rain in the past week, but no serious change in grain quality was suspected because of favorable drying between rain events.
As of a week ago, corn planting was 39% complete and further progress has occurred since then. Soybean planting was 43% done as of a week ago and new statistics will be released overnight.
Brief periods of light rain will evolve at times in Argentina during the next seven days. Most areas will have an opportunity 
for rain, although amounts will often be too light to counter evaporation and net drying may result. Formosa and immediate neighboring areas in northern Chaco will see the most frequent precipitation and will receive enough rain to keep soil moisture near current levels. Temperatures will trend near to above average. Daytime highs will be in the upper 70s and 80s most often with several locations in the north frequently warming into the 90s. The warm weather and lack of rain will promote net drying in much of the country and that will promote greater field progress and a general firming of the soil.
Planting and general fieldwork conditions will gradually improve for the areas that are abundantly wet. Winter wheat harvest operations will advance more swiftly as the ground firms up. However, the drying tendencies could slow plant development rates in several sections of the nation, especially in those areas already running moisture deficits. Timely rain will be needed later in December to keep the ground from becoming too dry. Continued dryness during the second and third weeks of this month might lead to crop stress and slower plant growth rates. World Weather, Inc. believes some timely rain will evolve before any area becomes critically dry.
World Weather, Inc. forecasts and comments pertaining to present, past and future weather conditions included in this report constitute the corporation’s judgment as of the date of this report and are subject to change without notice. Comments regarding damage or the impact of weather on agricultural and energy as well as comments made regarding the impact of weather on the commodity and financial markets are the explicit opinions of World Weather, Inc. World Weather, Inc. can not be held responsible for decisions made by users of the Corporation’s information in any business, trade or investment decision.
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