The reporting period covers the harvesting period for early soybean, early maize and rice, and the main growing period for late soybean and late maize. In some regions, conditions were poor due to a lack of  precipitation and extreme temperatures. In some regions, the conditions recovered to close to average levels by the end of this reporting period. 

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 (11), Mesopotamia (12), Humid Pampas (13), and Subtropical Highlands (17). The other agro-ecological zones are less relevant for this period. In Chaco, Subtropical Highlands, Pampas and South Mesopotamia main crops growing during this period are soybean and maize, while in North Mesopotamia, the main crop is rice.

For the whole country, rainfall showed a positive anomaly of +14%, TEMP showed a positive anomaly of +1.1° and RADPAR showed a -3% negative anomaly. Two of the main AEZs showed negative anomalies in RAIN: Humid Pampas (-19%) and Mesopotamia (-9 %), while Subtropical Highlands and Chaco showed positive anomalies of +50% and +44%, respectively. TEMP showed positive anomalies in the four AEZs: Humid Pampas (+1.7°C), Mesopotamia (+1.2°C) , Chaco (+0.4°) and Subtropical Highlands (+0.3°). RADPAR showed negative anomalies in the four AEZs: Chaco (-3%), Pampas (-3%), Subtropical Highlands (-2%) and Mesopotamia (-1%).

For the whole country, rainfall showed negative anomalies only during short periods, namely at the beginning of February and at the end of April. Nevertheless, in specific regions, strong negative anomalies in rainfall were observed. Pampa showed strong negative anomalies at the beginning and end February and at the beginning March, as well as negative anomalies during April. Mesopotamia showed negative anomalies during January and February and in part of April. TEMP showed negative anomalies in mid-February and mid-April, and strong positive anomalies in March.

At the national scale, the crop condition development graph based on NDVI showed values below the five years average during the whole reporting period. Values were also lower than in the 2022 growing season. Chaco, Mesopotamia and Pampas showed also negative anomalies during the entire reporting period, but at a lower magnitude at the end. Subtropical Highlands showed no anomalies in NDVI since April. High precipitation events and reduction of temperature observed since mid-March could have explained this recovery.

Spatial distribution of NDVI profiles allowed for the clustering of the area into five classes. Orange profile showed the highest values with almost no anomalies or slight positive anomalies during the reporting period. It was observed mainly in South and West Pampas and in West Subtropical Highlands. A profile with near no anomalies during January and February and with negative anomalies during March and April (dark green profile) was observed in Center and West Pampas. A profile with negative anomalies since January and no anomalies since the end of March (blue profile) was observed in all the zones. A profile with strong negative anomalies during January and February and no anomalies during April (light green profile) was observed in North East Pampas and South Mesopotamia. Finally, a profile with negative anomalies all along the reporting period (red profile) was observed in Center, Center East and North Pampas and in East Chaco.

For the whole country, BIOMSS showed a +5% positive anomaly, CALF showed no anomaly and VCIx showed a value of 0.78. VCIx showed values lower than 0.8 in North East, Center East and South West Pampas, South Mesopotamia and East Chaco. Good conditions were observed in the rest of the agricultural area of Argentina. Higher values of VCIx were observed in South Pampas.

Variations of weather conditions resulted in a large discrepancy of BIOMSS departures: Strong positive anomalies of BIOMSS were observed in Chaco (+19%) and Subtropical Highlands (+17%) where almost no anomalies in rainfall were observed. Zones with negative anomalies in rainfall like Mesopotamia and Humid Pampas showed near average values (+1%) and negative anomaly (-6%), respectively.

CALF was almost complete in the four AEZs (99%) and showed a slight negative anomaly (-1%) in Mesopotamia, Chaco and Subtropical Highlands and no anomaly in Humid Pampas. Although recent increased rainfall accelerated crop development, the drought impacts at the early stage was not fully mitigated and VCIx showed regular to slightly poor conditions in the four AEZ: Subtropical Highlands (0.83), Humid Pampas (0.80), Chaco (0.74) and Mesopotamia (0.68). CPI values observed were: Subtropical Highlands (1.06), Humid Pampas (1.04), Chaco (0.95) and Mesopotamia (0.81). Observed CPI values were among the lowest in the last ten years in the mentioned AEZs, mainly due to the early onset of the prolonged drought conditions.

In general, normal agro-climatic conditions were observed in Argentina during the four months of this monitoring period, but crops were still suffering from the severe drought conditions that prevailed during the last monitoring period from October to January. Strong temperature anomalies at the national level and precipitation anomalies in some regions were observed during part of the current reporting period. Poor conditions (low precipitation, low VCIx and temperature anomalies) were observed in the main agricultural areas during this period too. In addition, the delay in planting observed during the last reporting period (low CALF values) could have incremented the proportion of late summer crops which have lower yield potential. CPI of Argentina showed a value of 1.03, one of the lowest in the last ten years. In summary, reductions in yields are expected for the main summer crops (soybean, maize and rice). The last reporting period showed poor conditions for growth during the main stages of early summer crops.

  Figure 3.7 Argentina 's crop condition, January - April 2023

(a). Phenology of major crops

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

(c). Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Humid 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 rainfall profile (Argentina)

(h). Time series rainfall profile (Humid Pampas)

(i). Time series rainfall profile (Mesopotamia)

(j). Time series temperature profile (Argentina)

(k). Spatial distribution of NDVI profiles

(l). Maximum VCI

Table 3.6. Argentina’s agroclimatic indicators by sub‐national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, January 2023 – April 2023

Table 3.7. Argentina’s agronomic indicators by sub‐national regions, current season's values and departure from 5YA, January 2023 – April 2023