The wheat campaign in the core region faces uncertainty from heavy rains, hail, frosts and fusarium, with potential yields of 40 to 50 quintals per hectare at risk and 15,600 hectares exposed to hail.
What looked set to be a very good wheat campaign in the core region has begun to raise questions in its final stretch. The frosts that caused damage in various fields were followed by heavy rains, hail and the appearance of fungal diseases such as fusarium. As a result, potential yields of between 40 and 50 quintals per hectare are now contingent on what happens in the coming weeks.
According to the latest report from the Guía Estratégica para el Agro (GEA) of the Bolsa de Comercio de Rosario (BCR), the storms recorded during the first week of November, especially Tuesday's, left accumulations of between 70 and 130 millimeters in parts of southeastern Córdoba, accompanied by strong winds and hail.
Damage is still being assessed. Based on radar images, the organization identified some 15,600 hectares potentially exposed to hail, of which 2,300 were reached by the most intense storm cores. However, it clarified that these figures do not represent a direct measurement of crop losses.
In towns such as Monte Buey and Corral de Bustos, agronomists warn that "there are wheats knocked down by the wind, corn completely swept away and soybean fields just emerging," which will have to be assessed to determine whether they need replanting.
Hail is not the only concern for wheat. In Los Quirquinchos, fusarium has already been detected and there are fears that the rainfall will favor its spread. In Junín, meanwhile, no symptoms are yet visible, although specialists anticipate they will begin "to see white heads."
Add to that the frost damage, which is beginning to show up in the surveys. In Venado Tuerto, for example, heads with partial and total damage were identified.
Uncertainty also extends to soybeans. Although 500,000 hectares were planted during the past week and progress reached 30% of the planned area, 4 percentage points above the average of the last five campaigns, the rains threaten part of the newly planted fields.
The main fear is the so-called planchazo effect, which occurs when a surface crust forms on the soil, hindering plant emergence and potentially forcing a replant.
