In Veinticinco de Mayo, Argentina, farmer Dario Sabini examines stunted corn cobs in his dry fields, noting the yellowing leaves on plants that should be lush and green. The recent drought in the area has affected agricultural yields.
We are seeing here corn that's already gone. The plant is already yellow, it will not come back, Sabini expressed, highlighting the severe impact of the dry weather on crops in the region. Despite revised forecasts by grains exchanges in Argentina, Sabini, along with many other farmers, believes the situation is graver than predicted.
Sabini, a producer of soybeans, corn, and beef on a vast ranch, underscores the challenges faced by rural producers in Argentina due to the prolonged dry and hot conditions triggered by La Niña.
The Buenos Aires grains exchange has downsized its estimations for the current crop, projecting 49.6 million tons of soybeans and 49 million tons of corn in the upcoming harvest. However, Sabini and fellow farmer Juan Gardey express skepticism given the ongoing drought and its detrimental effects on their crops.
It has to rain. Hopefully it will rain soon and we can improve to yields of 2,000 kilos (per hectare). With less than that, it's very complicated, Gardey emphasized, emphasizing the urgent need for rainfall to salvage the harvest season.
The looming decline in harvests poses a significant challenge for Argentina, heavily reliant on grain exports for essential foreign currency inflows. Agro-climatologist Eduardo Sierra warns that without timely rainfall, soy and corn production could drop below the current forecasts, potentially leading to further economic strain on the country.
Despite recent tax cuts on agricultural exports aimed at boosting sales, farmers like José Cozzi express concerns about the uncertain prospects ahead, citing low yields and challenging market conditions.
The outlook is pretty uncertain, yields are going to be low for both corn and soybeans. Basically, everything is complicated, Cozzi shared, reflecting the widespread worry among farmers.