This reporting period covers mainly the fallow period of summer crops. The harvesting of late maize, soybean and rice concluded during this period, and the sowing of wheat is still on-going. Some regions, such as the Humid Pampas and Subtropical Highlands showed particularly poor crop conditions.

At the country level, rainfall was 8% below the 15YA, TEMP showed a 0.5°C anomaly, and RADPAR remained at average. The shortage of rain resulted in 10% negative departure of BIOMSS. Particularly in the Humid Pampas, negative anomalies in rainfall were much more frequent than in the other major production zones. TEMP profile showed quite some variability with periods with negative anomalies (since mid-May to end June) and times of positive anomalies (beginning and end of July).  Maximum VCI showed good conditions in Mesopotamia, Chaco and Subtropical Highlands, and regular to poor conditions in most of the Pampas. Worst conditions were observed in the agricultural belt in Center Pampas, where late maize, late soybean and winter crops like wheat and barley are present, and in South West Pampas where wheat and barley are the dominant crops.

CropWatch subdivides Argentina into eight agro-ecological zones (AEZ) based on cropping systems, climatic zones, and topography; they are identified by numbers on the NDVI departure cluster map. During this monitoring period, most crops were grown in the following four agro-ecological zones: Chaco, Mesopotamia, Humid Pampas, and Subtropical Highlands. The other agro-ecological zones were less relevant for this period. 

RAIN showed positive anomalies in Mesopotamia (+12%) and Chaco (+9%), and negative anomalies in Humid Pampas (-40%) and Subtropical Highlands (-31%). TEMP showed negative anomalies in all the AEZs: Chaco (-0.8℃), Mesopotamia (-0.6℃), Humid Pampas (-0.5℃) and Subtropical Highlands (-0.4℃). RADPAR showed negative anomalies in Chaco (-6%), Mesopotamia (-4%) and Subtropical Highlands (-1%), and positive anomaly in Humid Pampas (+5%). BIOMSS showed slight positive anomalies in Mesopotamia (+4%) and Chaco (+2%), and strong negative anomalies in Humid Pampas (-24%) and Subtropical Highlands (-11%). CALF was complete in Chaco and Mesopotamia (100 %), almost complete in Subtropical highlands (99%) and reduced in Humid Pampas (91%) showing a -2% negative anomaly. Maximum VCI showed good conditions in Mesopotamia (0.97) and Chaco (0.95) and regular conditions in Subtropical Highlands (0.87) and Humid Pampas (0.85).

For the whole country, the crop condition development graph based on NDVI showed negative anomalies since the end of April. Pampas showed a similar pattern, but negative anomalies were observed since end of May. Chaco showed negative anomalies since June. Mesopotamia showed positive anomalies during April and beginning May and negative anomalies at the end of June and beginning of July. Subtropical Highlands showed near no anomaly during most of the period, except during June, when negative anomalies were observed.

Spatial distribution of NDVI profiles determined five homogeneous spatial patterns. Best conditions were observed in North Chaco and North Mesopotamia (orange profile) with positive or no anomalies during the reporting period. South Mesopotamia, South Chaco and North Pampas were dominated by the dark green pattern which showed positive anomalies up to May and negative anomalies since June. The blue profile was located in South Subtropical Highlands, North West Pampas and over small areas in the rest of the Pampas. It showed slight negative anomalies since the end of April. The red profile was located in Center, West and South Pampas and showed negative anomalies during the entire reporting period. They were stronger at the beginning of the reporting period. The light green profile was mainly located in East Pampas and showed near no anomalies in April and strong negative anomalies during June and July. 

In summary, variable conditions were observed in Argentina according to the different major production zones. Humid Pampas showed negative anomalies in RAIN, poor conditions in BIOMSS, and a considerable uncropped area. Subtropical Highlands showed also negative anomalies in RAIN and low BIOMSS values. Chaco and Mesopotamia showed regular to good conditions.

Figure 3.7 Argentina 's crop condition, April - July 2022

a. Phenology of major crops

b. Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Argentina)

c. Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Pampas)

d. Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Chaco)

e. Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Mesopotamia)

f. Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Subtropical Highlands)

g. Time series of rainfall profile (Argentina)

h. Time series of rainfall profile (Humid Pampas)

i. Time series of rainfall profile (Chaco)

j. Time series of rainfall profile (Mesopotamia)

k. Time series of rainfall profile (Subtropial Highlands)

l. Time series of temperature profile (Argentina)

m. Maximum VCI

n. Spatial distribution of NDVI profiles

Table 3. 6 Argentina’s agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season’s values, and departure from 15YA, April - July 2022

Table 3. 7 Argentina’s agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season’s values, and departure from 5YA, April-July 2022