The reporting period covers the harvesting of winter crops (mainly wheat and barley), as well as the sowing of early and late soybean and late maize. It is the main growing period for early maize and rice. 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 Center, South and East Pampas,  South Mesopotamia, Chaco, and East Subtropical Highlands. Maize and soybean are planted in all the AEZs, while rice is planted in North Mesopotamia and East Chaco. Crop conditions in Argentina showed average to good conditions in several of the indices analyzed, including rainfall, potential biomass and VCIx.

Rainfall was 47% above the 15YA, while temperatures (-0.7°C) and RADPAR (-7%) were below average. The above-average values in BIOMSS (+10%) were related to abundant rainfall. According to the national rainfall profiles, the decadal rainfall also showed above-average values during most of the reporting period, except for the first and last decades, where negative anomalies were observed. The largest rainfall departures were observed in Mesopotamia (93%). Chaco and Humid Pampas also showed high anomaly values (47 and 49%, respectively), while Subtropical Highlands showed a slight increment of 5%. Temperature showed negative anomalies in three of the AEZs. Highest reductions were observed in Mesopotamia (-1.2°C), followed by Chaco and Humid Pampas with a reduction of -0.8°C. On the contrary, Subtropical Highlands showed a slight increment of +0.3°C. Radiation showed reductions in all the AEZs. Highest reductions were observed in Mesopotamia (-13%) and Chaco (-11%). Subtropical Highlands and Humid Pampas showed lower reductions (-6 and -4%, respectively). Zones with higher positive anomalies in rainfall also showed higher positive anomalies in BIOMSS. The highest anomalies were observed in Mesopotamia (17%), followed by Chaco (13%), Humid Pampas (9%) and Subtropical Highlands (8%).

At the national level, the crop condition development graph based on NDVI showed negative anomalies from October to the beginning of December and near average values since then. It is also noteworthy that the NDVI was higher than a year ago. Chaco showed below-average values during October and November and average values in December and January. Mesopotamia showed negative anomalies at the end of October only, and positive anomalies since the end of November. Pampas presented near average values throughout most the reporting period, with slight negative anomalies at the end of October and slight positive anomalies at the end of December and the beginning of January. Subtropical Highlands showed negative anomalies from the end of October to the end of November and near no anomalies during the rest of the reporting period. The analysis of the spatial distribution of NDVI profiles resulted in five temporal profiles. Two profiles showed a positive tendency in NDVI (blue and light green profiles), the other two profiles showed a negative tendency in NDVI (orange and red profiles), while the 5th profile showed no clear trend (dark green profile). The blue profile showed negative anomalies during October and the beginning of November and positive anomalies since December and was observed in Northeast and Center Pampas, South East Chaco and South West Mesopotamia. The red profile showed negative anomalies from October to the beginning of December and nearly no anomalies since then. It was located mainly in Southwest and Center Pampas. The orange profile, located mainly in South Pampas, showed positive anomalies during October and November and negative anomalies during December and January. The red profile showed negative anomalies throughout the reporting period. It was observed in Northwest Pampas and West Chaco. The dark green profile showed mainly near average values, except for December and beginning of January, where slight positive anomalies were observed. It was mainly located in East Pampas, East Chaco, West Subtropical Highlands and North Mesopotamia.

At the national level, CALF was 94 %, but it represented no anomaly in relation to average values. VCIx showed an average value of 0.88, reflecting good conditions. Differences in CALF were observed at the regional level. Mesopotamia showed no anomaly, while Chaco showed a negative anomaly of 1% and Subtropical Highlands and Humid Pampas showed positive anomalies (7% and 2%, respectively). Maximum VCI showed good conditions for all the AEZ. Mesopotamia showed the highest values (0.96), followed by Humid Pampas (0.90), Subtropical Highlands (0.87) and Chaco (0.84). VCIx map showed generalized good conditions in Mesopotamia and Humid Pampas. Chaco showed spatial variability in VCIx, with lower values in the West and higher values in the East. Low VCIx values were also observed in parts of Subtropical Highlands and Northwest Pampas. At the national level, Crop Production Index (CPI) was above average (1.07). Differences at regional level showed negative anomalies in CPI for Chaco (0.88) and positive anomalies for Subtropical Highlands (1.16), Mesopotamia (1.13) and Humid Pampas (1.08).

In summary, good conditions for crop growth and development were observed, with positive anomalies in rainfall and BIOMSS, generally high VCIx values, average conditions in NDVI and no relevant anomalies in temperature and CALF. During the critical period of grain filling, wheat (October and November) showed good conditions in Pampas which is the main wheat producing area, despite some problems oberved during the last reporting period. Negative anomalies in NDVI in Chaco and Subtropical Highlands identified during these months could have partially affected  wheat production. Depending of the continuity of good conditions during the rest of the summer, crop production increments in soybean and maize can be expected compared to poor conditions observed during the previous growing season. Rice production areas (North mesopotamia and East Chaco) also showed good conditions for growing.

Figure 3.7 Argentina 's crop condition, October 2023-January 2024

(a) Phenology of major crops

(b) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI

(c) Maximum VCI

(d) Spatial distribution of NDVI profiles      (e) NDVI departure profiles

(f) Rainfall profiles

(g) Temperature profiles

(h) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Chaco (left) and Mesopotamia (right))

(i) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Humid Pampas (left) and Subtropical Highlands (right))

(j) CPI time series graph 

Table 3.5 Argentina’s agroclimatic indicators by sub‐national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, October 2023 – January 2024

Table 3.6 Argentina’s agronomic indicators by sub‐national regions, current season's values and departure from 5YA, October 2023 – January 2024