Crop condition in Argentina was generally favorable over thereporting period. Currently, the harvesting of winter wheat is almost completed,and maize and soybean are at flowering to grain filling stages. Argentinaexperienced sufficient rainfall and favorable temperatures, which promoted thedevelopment of maize and soybean. Compared to the average, Argentinaexperienced 22% more rainfall, 0.7°C higher temperature, and average PAR. Theoverall crop condition based on NDVI development shows above average crop condition.Spatial NDVI patterns compared to the five-year average and corresponding NDVI departurecluster profiles confirm that NDVI is above average for most arable land inArgentina. Only 10% of crop areas scattered across north Argentina showed belowaverage condition since September 2014. Rainfall in late January promoted thesummer crops’ progress. High maximum VCI values in central and northern BuenosAires, Santa Fe, and Cordoba indicate positive prospects for maize and soybean.CropWatch estimates winter wheat production for the 2014-2015 season at 12.1million tons, 15% up from the previous season (see table B.1in Annex B.)

Figure3.5. Argentina crop condition, October 2014-January 2015

Cropcondition development graph based on NDVI       (b)Maximum VCI

(c)Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA                        d)NDVI profiles