The reporting period covers the main growing stages of winter crops and the sowing of early maize and rice. Part of the period is a fallow period for summer 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 AEZs: Chaco (11), Mesopotamia (12), Humid Pampas (13), and Subtropical Highlands (17). The other agro-ecological zones were less relevant for this period. Wheat is planted in East Subtropical Highlands, Chaco, Mesopotamia and Center, South and East Pampas. Maize is planted in all the AEZs, while rice is planted in North Mesopotamia and East Chaco. Crop conditions in Argentina showed quite variability over main agricultural areas. Several indices showed poor conditions in part of Pampa and Chaco. The rest of the MPZs showed good conditions.

For the whole country, rainfall showed a +14% positive anomaly, TEMP showed a slight positive anomaly (+0.7°) and RADPAR showed a negative anomaly of -7%. RAIN showed positive anomalies in Mesopotamia (+48%) and Chaco (+17%), and negative anomalies in Humid Pampas (-20%) and near no anomaly in Subtropical Highlands (-1%). TEMP showed slight positive anomalies in the four AEZs: Subtropical Highlands (+1.2°), Mesopotamia (+1°), Chaco (+0.9°) and Humid Pampas (+0.4°). RADPAR showed negative anomalies in these AEZs: Chaco (-9%), Mesopotamia (-9%), Subtropical Highlands (-8%) and Pampas (-6%). At the national level, rainfall profiles showed slight negative anomalies during most of the reporting period (in July, August, September and October) and strong positive anomaly events at the beginning of September and end of October. TEMP profile showed positive and negative anomalies during July and August and near average values during September and October.

At the national level, the crop condition development graph based on NDVI showe near average values from July to September and below average values during October. Nevertheless, values were above or similar to those observed during last year. Chaco showed negative anomalies in NDVI during all of the reporting period, with stronger anomalies since August. Mesopotamia and Subtropical Highlands showed near and above average values during most of the reporting period, except at the end of October when a negative anomaly was observed. Pampas showed near average values during most of the period and a negative anomaly at the end of October. 

Spatial distribution of NDVI profiles determined five homogeneous spatial patterns. A profile with negative anomalies all along the reporting period and with a tendency to decrease at the end (light green profile), was observed in South West, Center and North East Pampas and South Chaco. A profile with almost stable negative anomalies near -0.05 along the reporting period (red profile) was observed in most of Pampas, South Chaco and North Subtropical Highlands. A profile with near no anomalies (blue profile) was observed mainly in East, South and West Pampas, North Mesopotamia, East Chaco and Center Subtropical Highlands. A profile with positive anomalies during July and August with a tendency to decrease NDVI anomaly values, showing negative values since the end of September (dark green profile), was mainly observed in North East Pampas, South Mesopotamia and South Subtropical Highlands. Finally, a profile with slight positive anomalies at the beginning and end of the reporting period, and higher positive anomalies during August, September and October (orange profile) was observed in Center Mesopotamia, North East Pampas and South Subtropical Highlands.

At the national level, BIOMSS showed a negative anomaly of -3%, CALF showed a -5% negative anomaly and VCIx showed an average value of 0.70. BIOMSS showed positive anomalies in Chaco (+7%), Subtropical Highlands (+6%) and Mesopotamia (+5%) and a strong negative anomaly in Humid Pampas (-14%). CALF showed a strong negative anomaly in Chaco (-15%) and a slight negative anomaly in Pampas (-2%). No anomaly was observed in Mesopotamia and a strong positive anomaly was detected in Subtropical Highlands. Maximum VCI showed good conditions for Mesopotamia (0.90) and Subtropical Highlands (0.85) and regular to poor conditions in Pampas (0.69) and Chaco (0.60). The VCIx map showed the worst conditions in Center and South Chaco and Center and West Pampas. The Crop Production Index showed values quite above average for Subtropical Highlands (1.53), values near average for Mesopotamia (1.02) and Pampas (0.99) and values quite below average for Chaco (0.59).

In summary, conditions were variable among the AEZs. Pampas and Chaco showed poor conditions in several of the indices, while Mesopotamia and Subtropical Highlands showed in general good conditions. Pampas showed negative anomalies in BIOMSS and RAIN, contrasting with the other MPZs. Chaco showed a strong reduction in CALF, and negative NDVI anomalies during most of the reporting period. Pampas and Chaco showed regular to low VCIx values in most of the area. CALF reduction in Chaco can reflect a reduction in planting of wheat, as well as a delay in planting of summer crops. Despite regular to poor conditions observed in Chaco and Pampas, results of most indices are quite better than during last year, expecting increments in wheat production for this growing season.

Figure 3.7 Argentina 's crop condition, July-October 2023

(a). Phenology of major crops

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

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

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

(e). Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Humid Pampas)

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

(g). Time series rainfall profile (Argentina)

(h). Time series temperature profile (Argentina)

(i). Spatial distribution of NDVI profiles

(j). Maximum VCI

Table 3.5. Argentina’s agroclimatic indicators by sub‐national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, July 2023 – October 2023

Table 3.6. Argentina’s agronomic indicators by sub‐national regions, current season's values and departure from 5YA, July 2023 – October 2023