February 8, 2012

Rains ease Argentina's scorched corn, soy crops

The parched corn and soy planting regions in Argentina's Pampas agricultural zone see relief from recent downpours, after months of drought.

The rains will continue for most of the week, benefiting corn and soy crops, Jose Luis Aiello, a climatologist for the Rosario Cereals Exchange said. The damage caused by dry weather is irreversible in some areas, he said.

"This is going to improve the situation of late season corn crops," Aiello said. "And the soy that were recently planted are going to be better."

The weather pattern known as La Nina has brought hot, dry weather to Argentina, Brazil and Mexico, scorching recently planted crops. The drought in Argentina is similar to one last year in the US that caused corn production to miss forecasts by about 10%, Rick Tolman, chief executive officer of the National Corn Growers Association, said January 26.