Argentina Crop Maturation, Harvest To Advance Swiftly
By Andrew Owen
Kansas City, March 8 (World Weather Inc.) – Much needed drying was noted in southern Santa Fe, eastern Cordoba, and western Entre Rios during the past week. The region experienced flooding periodically in February and the first few days of March due to 
abundant rainfall. Early corn and sunseed maturation and harvest conditions were slowed or delayed in many areas and there was concern over the quality of sunseed. Drier weather will occur during much of the coming week resulting in better maturation and harvest conditions.
The greatest amount of rain during the past week fell from San Luis and the western half of Cordoba through Santiago del Estero, Chaco, Formosa, and northern Corrientes. Rain amounts for the seven-day period ending this morning ranged from 1.00 to 2.00 inches with locally greater amounts. The remaining portions of Argentina reported a trace to 0.63 inch of rain with local amounts approaching 1.00 inch. However, several locations in northern Buenos Aires and immediate neighboring areas were dry.
Portions of northwestern Cordoba and neighboring areas, along with portions of Chaco and Formosa, are abundantly wet in the topsoil. 
Fieldwork was likely slowed in recent days as a result of the precipitation. Drier weather would be welcome for these areas to firm up the topsoil and improve fieldwork conditions. Soil moisture elsewhere is rated adequate.
The earliest planted summer coarse grain and oilseeds are maturing and being harvested. Dry weather would promote the best conditions for these crops in the next few weeks. Timely rain will still be needed for late season crops that are in the filling stages, although subsoil moisture will carry on normal development for a while without any serious threat to production. Crop yields are expected to be favorable this year in much of the country. Flooding in February did damage a small part of the crop, but the losses were not suspected of being tremendous and nationwide production will still be notably high.
A strong band of showers and thunderstorms will advance across northern Santiago del Estero and northern Chaco through Formosa 
today and Wednesday morning. While these are not major production areas, there will be enough rain to slow or delay maturation and fieldwork for the crops that are produced there. Moisture totals will range from 0.75 to 2.50 inches with local amounts over 4.00 inches. Areas further south will be dry.
Mostly dry weather will then evolve for the remainder of the coming week in Argentina. The lack of rain will help firm up the topsoil in northern Argentina. Maturation and harvest conditions will be favorable in most locations.
Temperatures will trend near to above average through the beginning of next week as well. Daytime highs will often warm into the 80s and lower 90s Fahrenheit with cooler pockets during the next few days. The warm weather and lack of rain will promote aggressive drying in most locations. Northern Argentina may need a few days of drying before producers will be able to resume harvesting and general fieldwork.
No major issues are expected for much of Argentina during the next seven to ten days. Northern fringes of the cotton production region may receive enough rain through Wednesday morning to discolor the fiber lower quality, although the lack of follow-up rain will be good for most of the crop.
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