Generally, favorable climatic conditions predominate over SouthAmerica this reporting period, with above average crop growth condition. Slightly above average rainfall and air temperature promoted the progress of summer crops. Figure 2.3 presents an overview.

Environmental conditions were generally favorable, with rainfall4% above average and temperature up 1.5°C. Rainfall, however, varied a lot fromplace to place. Argentina experienced average rainfall conditions; southern Brazil,including Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, suffered from excessive rainfall, while northern parts of the MPZ (Parana, Mato Grosso do Sul, and SaoPaulo) had a shortage of precipitation. High temperature from October toJanuary together with average rainfall induced a water deficit in the central Pampas, which is confirmed by the low VHI (below 0.35) and below average BIOMSS.The excessive rainfall offset the impacts of consistently high temperature in RioGrande do Sul where 20% or more above average biomass estimates and high VCIxcan be observed. Spatially, VCIx in Brazil is well correlated with VHIn,indicating that water deficit was indeed the key limiting factor for cropdevelopment. In contrast, VCIx is not consistent with VHIn in Argentina, whichmeans that water deficit is insignificant. Over the monitoring period, 82% ofarable lands were cropped, which is 1% below average. Most uncropped arableland was scattered in the central Pampas.

Figure 2.3.South America MPZ: Agroclimatic and agronomic indicators, October 2014-January2015