Mar 06, 2023
Argentina Registered Record High Temperatures Last Week
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
Temperatures in Argentina set record highs last week for the month of March with some cities registered temperatures as high as 40°C (104°F). The city of Buenos Aires hit 38°C (101°F) breaking the record set in 1952.
Last Wednesday, large sections of the country were without electricity and air conditioning due to a blackout caused by a fire in a national grid. Temperatures in Argentina have been very erratic this summer. Record high temperatures were set in January only to be followed by record low temperatures in mid-February and even localized frosts. Temperatures are now back to record highs!
Everything that could go wrong has gone wrong with Argentina's main crops of soybeans, corn, and wheat. Since last year, the crops have suffered the worst drought in 60 years with record high temperatures and record low temperatures. Production estimates continue to decline and Argentina is expected to produce the smallest soybean crop in at least 16 years.
Approximately 38% of Argentina's soybeans are produced in northern La Pampa and western Buenos Aires and farmers in the region are expecting soybean yields to be down as much as 50% from the long-term average.
Farmers have started the early corn harvest and yields are reported to be below expectations.