Western Argentina Still In Need Of Greater Rainfall
By Andrew Owen
Kansas City, November 18 (World Weather Inc.) – Showers and thunderstorms were reported across much of Argentina during the past week. All of the precipitation was welcome and most of it did not seriously setback fieldwork. However, there are still a number of western Argentina 
locations that are a little too dry and rain is needed to induce the best possible field working and crop development conditions.
Northern and eastern sections of Argentina reported the greatest amount of rain during the past week with totals through dawn today varying from 1.00 to 3.00 inches in Chaco, Formosa, much of Corrientes, eastern Entre Rios and eastern and central Buenos Aires. One location in southeastern Formosa cotton areas reported up to 5.75 inches while another location near the city of Buenos Aires received 4.50 inches. The remaining portions of Argentina reported 0.50 to 1.50 inches of rain with locally greater amounts.
Many areas from Chaco and Formosa through eastern Buenos Aires are excessively wet. A few bouts of significant rainfall interspersed with brief periods of dry weather gradually lifted topsoil moisture in support of better planting and early season crop development conditions. A period of dry weather would now be welcome for these areas to help firm up the ground a little bit. Santiago del Estero, portions of 
Cordoba and San Luis are still dealing with a minor shortage of moisture in the topsoil while other pockets of dryness popped up in the past week in central and southern Argentina.
Even with periods of rain in recent weeks, planting in western Argentina is still behind. The ground was too dry to promote aggressive planting at the beginning of the season and there is still room for improvement in much of Santiago del Estero and Cordoba. Planting of corn, sorghum, and sunseed normally continues through the beginning of December while soybeans are planted from now into January. There is still time for better rainfall to improve planting and establishment conditions in western Argentina.
In contrast, some of the wettest areas experienced some disruption to spring fieldwork and planting. Some progress was made around the precipitation and once the ground firms up crop conditions will improve further.
A weather disturbance will promote scattered showers and thunderstorms today and Thursday across Argentina. Many areas will receive precipitation at one time or another, but the greatest rain will be in central and eastern parts of the nation once again leaving the wet areas still in need for additional moisture. Moisture totals for the two day period ending Friday morning will range from 0.25 to 1.00 inch with a few exceptions. Thunderstorms will produce 0.75 to 1.75 inches of rain in southern Santa Fe with a couple of locations to possibly receive 2.00 inches. There will be little follow up rain of significance through the beginning of next week at which time net drying is most likely. Rain potentials will increase next Wednesday in the southern half of the production region once again.
Temperatures will trend cool in southern Argentina through Friday before warming into a more seasonable mode this weekend and the first part of next week. Northern Argentina will see temperatures near normal. Overall, eastern Argentina will dry some over the weekend and early next week that should promote better planting conditions after generalized rain tonight and Thursday. Soil conditions will remain favorable in most areas by the middle of next week.
Topsoil moisture will also improve in southern Cordoba and neighboring areas tonight and Thursday that will also promote better planting conditions. Northern Cordoba, Santiago del Estero, and neighboring areas in Santa Fe will continue to dry down and that may eventually lead to some establishment issues.
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