Mar 05, 2024
2023/24 Argentina Corn Rated 30% Good/Excellent, Up 2%
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
The rain last week and over the weekend favored northern Argentina while southern Argentina remained mostly dry with only a few showers in Buenos Aires and La Pampa. This week, the rain is expected to favor northern Argentina while dryness and crop stress will continue to build across southern production areas.
A few early corn yields look promising, but the early planted corn was expected to be higher yielding than the later planted corn. The corn estimate was left unchanged this week, but it could go either way depending on the weather. I am concerned about the dryer pattern for southern Argentina especially if it persists into next week or beyond.
The corn is 16.7% mature with some harvesting occurring in Santa Fe and Entre Rios. Early yields are reported in the range of 10.500 kg/ha (166.9 bu/ac). The earliest planted corn was far along in its development when hot and dry weather hit in January. The later planted corn was impacted by the adverse weather, but it has been helped by recent rain.
The corn in Argentina was rated 13% poor/very poor, 57% fair, and 30% good/excellent as of late last week. The percentage of the crop rated good/excellent was up 2% compared to the prior week. The soil moisture for the corn was rated 24% short/very short and 76% favorable/optimum. The percentage rated favorable/optimum was up 5% from the prior week.
2023/24 Argentina Corn Ratings*
| Condition | Soil Moisture | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poor/V. Poor % | Good/Excellent % | Short/V Short | Favorable/Optimum | |
| Jan. 24, 2023 | 6 (38) | 41 (12) | 11 (49) | 87 (51) |
| Jan. 31, 2023 | 14 (36) | 36 (16) | 23 (47) | 77 (48) |
| Feb. 7, 2023 | 15 (34) | 31 (20) | 40 (46) | 60 (46) |
| Feb. 14, 2023 | 17 (45) | 27 (11) | 26 (55) | 74 (45) |
| Feb. 21, 2023 | 15 (51) | 28 (9) | 29 (60) | 71 (40) |
| Feb. 28, 2023 | 13 (56) | 30 (6) | 24 (63) | 76 (37) |
*Source: Buenos Aires Grain Exchange – Crop Condition & Development Stages