Feb 06, 2024
2023/24 Argentina Corn Entering Critical Reproductive Phase
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
Last week was generally dry in Argentina with increasing temperatures. Over the weekend it was even hotter with temperatures 38 to 40°C (104 to 108°F) with rainfall favoring parts of Cordoba and buenos Aires. Showers are forecasted to build across central and southern Argentina later this week which should improve soil moisture for crops. Before the rain arrives, temperatures will again be in the range of 38 to 41°C (100 to 106°F).
The forecasted rains will be critical to maintaining current yield projections because the corn crop is in the critical reproduction phase. Moisture stress is already being reported in northern La Pampa and western Buenos Aires.
Nationwide, corn is 34% pollinating, 15% filling grain, and 3% maturing. In the core production areas, the corn is even further along with 75% pollinating, 53% filling grain, and 10% maturing, so this is a critical period especially for the earlier planted corn.
The 2023/24 Argentina corn estimate was left unchanged this week at 56.0 million tons and I have a tentative neutral bias going forward. My bias may change to neutral to lower if the rains forecasted for later this week disappoint.