Read this article in: Economy

Argentina sees record delay in corn to be planted

The lack of soil moisture delays corn planting and the remaining hectares to be planted are at a record high.

Water shortages continue to delay corn planting throughout the country. In the province of Buenos Aires, corn planting virtually came to a halt the past week, according to the weekly report of the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries (SAGyP). In Cordoba, only the Marcos Juarez delegation is progressing at a good pace. Meanwhile, in Santa Fe, the rains gave some relief to the corn already planted, but provincial progress is at 40% of the target area, far from last year's 65%.

The remaining corn area to be planted by the end of October is the highest on record and reaches 83% of the target area. If this target is met, the 2022/23 season will clearly be the late corn season, causing much uncertainty about the supply for the months of March and April. The record planting delay is not only in relative terms but also in absolute terms. As of October 20, more than 6 million hectares of corn are still to be planted, an all-time high.