Importance Score: 65 / 100 🔴
Heavy Rains Flood Argentina’s Key Agricultural Areas, Threatening Soybean and Corn Harvests
Recent torrential rains have inundated Argentina’s agricultural heartland, leading to submerged soybean fields and widespread flooding. The excessive precipitation, with some areas recording up to 400 millimeters (15.75 inches), has sparked concerns among farmers about potential significant losses to their soybean and corn crops. The heavy rainfall is impacting key agricultural regions, jeopardizing harvests for Argentina’s vital export commodities.
Widespread Flooding Impacts Farmland
Grain farmer Martin Vivanco, speaking from San Antonio de Areco, located 100 kilometers (62.14 miles) west of Buenos Aires, described the scene: “Everywhere you looked was like a sea of water.” He further noted that some low-lying farmland is completely inundated, making harvesting extremely difficult, and some farmers have suffered severe losses.
Impact on Soybean and Corn Production
Argentina is a leading global exporter of soybean oil and soybean meal, along with being the third-largest exporter of corn. The unseasonal, heavy precipitation poses a threat to these crucial crops.
- The excessive rainfall, reaching three to four times the usual May levels, according to meteorologist German Heinzenknecht, has raised fears of substantial crop damage.
- The rains, accumulating since Thursday, have exacerbated already saturated conditions from previous months.
Harvesting Delays and Potential Crop Losses
The wet conditions and muddy roads have already caused delays in harvesting the current soybean crop. These delays increase the risk of:
- Crop disease
- Seed pod openings, leading to yield reductions.
Regional Impact of the Storms
In Salto, north of Buenos Aires, farmer Esteban Plazibat reported that storms flooded 171,000 hectares with 330 mm of water. He is concerned about the impact on his silobags (large bags used to store soybeans), despite placing them in elevated locations. The flooding is also affecting local chicken and pig farms.
Soybean in Storage and Potential Risks
Un-harvested soybeans face considerable risk, as delays can lead to:
- Increased vulnerability to disease.
- Pod shattering in the fields.
Corn Crop Affected
While corn is generally more resistant to water damage, Vivanco mentioned that some fields have experienced water levels exceeding one meter, which could hinder plant growth.
Social Media Depicts the Crisis
The farmers’ association CARBAP shared images on X (formerly Twitter), showcasing submerged fields and impassable farm roads, highlighting the severity of the situation.
Urban Flooding and Evacuations
In addition to agricultural areas, the heavy rains triggered flooding in some cities within the Buenos Aires province, forcing the evacuation of residents from their homes.
Revised Crop Estimates and Overall Impact
Prior to the recent deluge, the Buenos Aires Grains Exchange projected soybean and corn crops at 50 million and 49 million metric tons, respectively. Both crops are currently in the harvesting phase.
Vivanco summarized the situation: “Everything is affected. This is unlike anything we’ve seen before.”