Regarding recent growing conditions in the South America MPZover the last four months, rainfall was 5 percent less than the previous five-yearaverage for the same period and temperature was above normal. Consistently, PARincreased by 3 percent. Limited precipitation and high temperature stressedcrops in central Pampas. The VHI profile indicates that crops in the coresoybean producing region (north western Buenos Aries, Córdoba, and south ofSanta Fe; regions shown in light green in figure 2.3a) suffered fromagricultural drought. Recent rains in January benefitted the crops there andvegetation condition turned normal. In the northern-most parts of Argentina aswell as the coastal regions of Santa Catarina and Paraná, lack of radiationhampered crop development. Favorable conditions over other regions in the SouthAmerica MPZ (mostly in Brazil and adjacent Paraguay) benefited crop growing.

Although growing conditions were unfavorable in the coresoybean producing region, the maximum vegetation condition index (VCI) wasstill relatively high. The rainfall in January boosted soil moisture suppliesand soybean and maize crop recovered from the stressed conditions. However,limited rain was recorded in western Buenos Aires and eastern La Pampa and thelow soil moisture damaged some crops, as indicated by the low maximum VCI.

Generally, maximum VCI for the whole MPZ was at an averagelevel, although concerns remain for soybean and maize crops; more rainfall isneeded so that stressed crops can recover from the hot and dry conditions.

Uncultivated arable land was only 2.6 percent over the lastfour months, slightly above the previous five-year average, but almost double thetwelve-year average reference value. Most cropped arable land is distributed innorthwest of Bahía Blanca to Santa Rosa, capital of La Pampa province. The percentageof uncropped arable markedly increased in 2008. One reason is that farmersprefer crop rotation farming systems with one fallow season every two or threeyears. Another reason is the extreme weather conditions that occurred. Crops inArgentina suffered severe drought during two of the last five years, whichdelayed crop planting. Some farmers even decided not to plant due to the highrisk. In southern Brazil, most arable land is cultivated.

Figure 2.3. South America MPZ:Farming intensity and stress