This reporting period essentially covers the growing period of winter crops in the region. Main crops are in the vegetative stages (maize) or at the beginning of planting (soybean). According to national sources, soybean area is expected to increase slightly in the coming season in Brazil, and to decrease in Argentina, due to variations in wheat and maize areas. Figure 2.3 summarizes the CropWatch agroclimatic and agronomic indicators for the area.

In general, the RAIN index showed reductions compared to average, with some variability among areas: negative departures in the Pampas, Patagonia, and semi-arid and Andean regions, and increments in northeast Brazil, the Amazon, and central-north Argentina. Increments in TEMP over average were more consistent among areas. Potential growth estimated through the BIOMSS indicator points at reductions in areas with a higher degree of RAIN deficit, while indicating increments in most areas with high RAIN. Maximum VCI highlights the variability of crop condition in the region. Despite the reductions in RAIN, Argentina showed in general higher maximum VCI values than Brazil, probably related to a higher retention of soil water from the previous season's rains (with strong El Niño effect) over temperate areas. Low VCI values occur locally in areas such as in the south of Buenos Aires province (Argentina) and Rio Grande do Sul and Paraná states (Brazil); they are associated with negative anomalies in precipitation. Low VHI values are observed for these areas, as well as in the northern areas of Brazil. BIOMSS reductions for the Pampas and Rio Grande do Sul due to lower rainfall do not always result in reductions in vegetation health index (VHI), probably also due to the soil water retention from the extremely wet last campaign. For the central Pampas, changes in crop proportions from last year could also explain the high VHI values observed.

Overall, conditions are average to favorable for crops in the South America MPZ.

a. Spatial distribution of rainfall departure and the coresponding profiles

b. Spatial distribution of temperature departure and the coresponding profiles

c. Maximum VCI                                                                    d. Cropped and uncropped arable land

e. Biomass accumulation potential departure                         f. Minimum VHI

g. Cropping intensity