Oct 01, 2025
Heavy Rains Disrupt Early Planting in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
The start of spring in Argentina has been characterized by repeated heavy rain in central and northern Buenos Aires, southern Santa Fe, and northeastern Argentina. Heavy rains fell in Argentina two weekends ago and then again last weekend in areas that had already been saturated by prior rains in August. Parts of Buenos Aires have declared flood emergencies (see pictures below).
The arrival of spring rain could be both good news and bad news depending on the situation. Where the soil is not saturated, the abundant moisture is good news for the developing wheat crop and subsequent corn or soybean planting. Where there is excessive water, it could mean the loss of the existing wheat crop or early planted corn and a potential switch to more soybeans or late planted corn. There has been a commitment on the part of the farmers to plant more of their corn early this year as opposed to late. In the core production areas, as much as 80% of the corn is expected to be planted early if conditions permit.
The hardest hit areas appear to be northern Buenos Aires and southern Santa Fe, which are some of the most highly productive areas of Argentina. In Buenos Aires, there are an estimated 3 million hectares impacted by excess water (7.4 million acres), and that does not include Santa Fe or northeastern Argentina.