ARGENTINA CORN PLANTING STALLED AS 'GREAT DROUGHT' FEARS RISE

[NickB79]

https://www.agriculture.com/markets/newswire/argentina-corn-planting-stalled-as-great-drought-fears-rise

BUENOS AIRES, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Argentina's main farming zones are facing the driest conditions in around 30 years, agricultural and weather experts said, raising fears about a new "great drought" and stalling planting of corn in the world's No. 3 exporter of the grain.

The vast Pampas plains of the South American nation are hitting the start of the corn planting season after almost no rainfall in some four months. Forecasts predict more dry weather ahead with scarce showers.

Argentina is the world's top exporter of processed soy oil and meal and an important producer of corn, wheat and barley.

Another bread basket takes a hit from climate change.

[Kaleva]

1. It's going to get tough while the world's breadbaskets relocate

The Midwest farm belt will move north and the agriculture industry in the Southwest, including CA, will collapse.

[Brother Buzz]

2. I'm an idiot when I thought who plants corn in September?

Then I thought about it a bit.

[peppertree]

3. I've always found the fact that seasons reverse, depending on the hemisphere, fascinating

Argentina does have the advantage of having a high grain export season (March-May) just as the major grain powerhouses in the N Hemisphere have their planting season.

Thanks to the predominant Brazil current moreover, their winters are usually mild - similar to late October/early November in much of the U.S.

Typical winter day down there. As you can see, it's chilly but not cold:

That said, rainfall does very greatly from year to year - which makes farmers' lives difficult. The niños/niñas are definitely becoming more intense as well, thanks to climate change.