The harvestingof summer crops (soybean and maize) was completed in May, while June to Augustis the sowing period for winter wheat. From April to July, excessive rainfallin Argentina dominated agroclimatic conditions, with 46% above average rainfallobserved nationally. However, rainfall was unevenly distributed with 20% ormore below average RAIN in Missions and Tucuman and almost double of averagerainfall in Corrientes, Entre Rios, and Santa Fe. Accordingly, RADPAR is 14%below average for Argentina and 1% to 26% below average for the majoragricultural provinces. TEMP is about 1°C above average for the whole nationand each province. The harvesting of summer crops was delayed due to theabundant rainfall in southern Buenos Aires, especially for the late soybean.Outputs of summer crops was not significantly impacted, and yield for maize andsoybean remains at the same level as the forecast in the previous bulletin. Theexcessive precipitation hampered the sowing of winter wheat. By the end ofJuly, winter wheat planted area was 4 percentage points below that of the sametime in 2015. The total planted area from April to July was also 5 percentagepoints below the 5YA. Nevertheless, soil moisture will be beneficial for winterwheat. In general, CropWatch is cautiously optimistic about the prospects ofwheat production for the coming season. (See table B.1 in Annex B forproduction estimates.)

(a)Crop condition development graph based on NDVI

(b)Maximum VCI

(c)Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA

(d)NDVI profiles