Wheat crops in Argentina need rain, says ministry

Low temperatures affect crops, but the consequences were not severe
by Estadão Content

(Lower temperatures affect wheat in Argentina, but without serious consequences, according to the government - Photo: Ernesto de Souza / Ed. Globe)

The wheat crops in Argentina need rain to avoid losses in this year's crop. "Soil moisture begins to be limiting in Bragado, in the northern province of Buenos Aires", say experts from the Ministry of Agriculture in a report on Friday (16/8).

According to them, the rains must be moderate quantity to keep moisture and ideal conditions of crops. In some specific cases, such as in the southwest region - Ayacucho, and Rauch-Mar Chiquita, "the water situation is complicated, since there are more than two months are not recorded rainfall of importance." On the other hand, in Bahia Blanca adequate moisture has favored the development of plants.

The report also pointed out that the low temperatures in recent days - in some regions reached zero - affected plants, but the consequences were not severe. "Last week, there was in Pehuajó intense frosts that affected the plants lightly newborn, but not considered focusing on its further development," says the report.

The province of Buenos Aires is responsible for half of the wheat produced in Argentina. The government estimates an area of 3.9 million acres with corn this season 2013/14. The report states that the implementation phase is almost complete. The latest crop of Argentine wheat was one of the worst of the last 110 years and resulted in shortages for domestic supply.

Source: Globo Rural magazine