Rains: General Villegas, in the west of Buenos Aires, recorded the highest rainfall of the weekend

The late rains of the last 98 hours came to relieve corn planted in late January. The Buenos Aires town of General Villegas registered the highest rainfall of the weekend: 76 millimeters. However, in the rest of the crops the situation does not change after several months of drought and heat waves that decimated agricultural production to its worst level in more than 20 years.

The Strategic Guide for Agriculture (GEA) of the Rosario Stock Exchange shared the data on the registered rainfall:

General Villegas: 76 mmÁlvarez: 52,6 mmRosario: 52 mmRamallo: 50 mmPujato: 48 mmRufino: 44 mmZavalla: 44 mmSanta Teresa: 42 mm

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“The regional scale conditions have changed and will favor a transition towards an autumn with normal rains,” said the consultant and meteorology expert, Alfredo Elorriaga, in the weekly report for the core zone of the Rosario Stock Exchange (BCR).

“It’s the end of the wake: we already buried the campaign”

Elorriaga clarified in any case that it is just an incentive in the midst of the general drama caused by the weather in the summer cycle. “The rains are the end of the wake: we have already buried the 2022/23 campaign ″, he explained.

According to the records, on average, in the most productive region of the country, 50 millimeters fell over the various days, although with considerable disparity. In the north of Buenos Aires they arrived during the long weekend.

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In this regard, Elorriaga clarified that “it cannot be guaranteed that in the short term it will rain enough to compensate the requirements of the soil profiles after three years Niña”.

The maps prepared by the GEA show that the profiles had an improvement. However, to reach the optimal state of reserves, thinking mainly of 2023/24 wheat, between 80 and 120 millimeters more are needed, they said.

They could favor late maize, if they escape early frosts

Under this scenario, the corn that was planted at the end of January are the ones that could transform some of these rains into yields, as long as they are not affected by early frosts.

“The greatest hope is placed in the sowings at the end of January: if the first intense cold does not catch them, they could surprise and reach up to 30 quintals per hectare,” said the GEA.

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At the beginning of the campaign, assuming a normal scenario of temperatures and rainfall, 10 million tons of corn could be expected in this region, and finally it will end up being just over three million.

In other words: 75% of what was projected was lost and the harvest will end as the worst in the GEA’s records.