Images:

Map: Areas Traveled

MEXICO CROP TRAVEL

MAY 2001 

Mexico Overview

Field travel by an analyst from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to the northwest Pacific coastal states of Mexico revealed how producers in the region are fairing with the reduced water supply in an era of increased international price competition. Additionally, producer insights into what the spring/summer season will hold were sought. 

The northwest Pacific coastal states of Baja California Norte, Sonora, and Sinaloa continue as a major contributor to Mexican agriculture. However, reliance upon irrigation (as opposed to rain-fed crop production) has placed those states in a particularly vulnerable position in recent years. Extended periods of dryness during the 1990's, plus the failure of tropical storms to replenishment the reservoirs, has negatively affected all of Mexican society. Water rationing has become standard practice in the more arid areas. Producers in the northwest can no longer assume that water will be available to support traditional cropping patterns, and are examining alternatives to corn and wheat for years when conditions do not favor large scale grain activity.

From the perspective of conserving reservoir supplies, logic would recommend growing grains rather than water-intensive vegetables. However, Mexican vegetables have a ready market across the international border to the north, and domestic consumption is on the increase as incomes rise. Vegetable production is also labor intensive, providing more jobs than field crops, a fact not lost on Mexican officials engaged in establishing production policy.  Mexican government officials estimate that 200,000 migrants work the vegetable fields of Sinaloa between November and May, and reports of workers traveling from the south states of Oaxaca, Guerrero, and Michoacan to cultivate northern fields are not uncommon. The newly elected Mexican President has organized a new agency to deal with the plight of migrant workers crossing the border into the United States, and the economic situation in Mexico places intense pressure on the government to maintain domestic job opportunities.  

Mexico Crop Travel:
Culiacan, Humaya River Valley, state of Sinaloa

In Sinaloa, virtually everything is geared to corn production. New seed varieties became readily available in 1992. The resulting increase in yield from these new varities (from around 2.3 tons per hectare to around 8.5 tons today from irrigated fields), accompanied by price increases, attracted area producers to corn cultivation. A complaint regularly heard today is that corn production costs are increasing while the market price has stabilized at around $178 per ton (including subsidies). Producers say their best recent year was 1998, when prices hit $200 per ton. Diversification is being discussed across Sinaloa, as government officials and representatives of producer associations say they would like to plant more sorghum, wheat, and soybeans in fields traditionally planted to corn. The biggest barriers to that transition are water supply, stable corn prices versus price fluctuations in the potential conversion crops, and how to persuade traditional corn producers to change cropping patterns. Producers, conversely, want more government programs that subsidize Mexican production and keep U.S. corn imports out until local production has been sold.

Most of the state's corn goes into domestic livestock and poultry feed, with a little moving into export. Sinaloa's principal corn crop is planted during a period referred to locally as the "first season", which stretchs from October to June. This crop requires 210 days from seeding to maturity, but represents a small fraction of the national total when the rest of the country has a normal summer season. Local Mexican government statistics indicate that for 2000/01 corn planted area in Sinaloa was expected to reach 235,900 hectares, but exceeded 285,000 hectares (98 percent irrigated). Only two of Sinaloa's six districts planted less corn than expected. Less than 1 percent of the 285,000 hectares had been harvested by the end of April 2000, but all will likely be harvested by June. A short cycle crop may be planted following the corn harvest if water is available, but usually the fields lay fallow. Because the best land in the state is devoted to corn, Sinaloa corn producers require few inputs.

Crop type determines the number of field workers. For example, one producer daily employs 10 corn workers, and 150 strawberry workers. This producer is unusual in that he has 5 hectares of strawberries, while most producers in the area have no more that a half hectare in strawberries. There is little variability in cultivation practices. Producers in Sinaloa are highly mechanized, and over 80 percent purchase their own equipment. Equipment manufacturers offer attractive prices, credit plans, and other incentives. Sinaloa's rain-fed summer crop goes to livestock operations, and those corn fields lay fallow the balance of the year.

Beans (frijoles) are planted in October, harvested in January/February, then the fields are planted to corn or sorghum. Through the end of June 2001, bean planted area for the "first season" was only 64,900 hectares, 75 percent of what had been expected. Yields through the end of April were about 1.37 tons per hectare. Eighty percent of the beans were irrigated. Producers claim Sinaloa beans sold for nearly 41 cents per pound in 1995- beans currently sell for 21 cents. Over 135,000 hectares of chickpeas were planted this cycle, 85 percent of it to irrigated fields. There is also sugarcane in the region, with 3 processors to handle production.

Sinaloa is the largest vegetable producing state in Mexico, although some producers believe vegetable area is declining. The listing of vegetables includes chili peppers, cucumbers, eggplants, green peas, melons, squash, tomatoes, and watermelons. Vegetable production will likely remain prevalent in the region despite water issues. Wheat production fell dramatically in the second half of the 1990's, a victim of dwindling moisture supplies. Summer sorghum was a following crop on many wheat fields, but in many instances has become the primary crop.  Soybeans were historically an an option to plant after harvesting wheat, but sorghum has largely replaced soybeans in the region.  

               Alfalfa
              Onions
              Sunflowers

The state of Sonora has averaged about 237,000 hectares planted to wheat (over 95 percent irrigated) for the last 10 years, with a yield of 5.36 tons per hectare - among the very best yields in the country. Wheat is the dominant crop around Ciudad Obregon, and this year most producers planted during the November 15 - December 15, 2000 time frame, expecting to harvest after May 10^th 2001. The poorer quality wheat is grazed out to livestock. If water supplies are low in Sonora state, wheat area typically is not replant with summer crop after the wheat is harvested. If water levels are sufficient, corn or soybeans are the most likely follow-on cropping options. 

Sunflowerseed, a tiny portion of Mexico's oilseed production, has gained prominence in Sonora in direct proportion to the scarcity of water. Sunflowers, which require less water than wheat, is now considered second only to wheat in importance for the Yaqui Valley. Good quality sunflower fields are provided one irrigation water release before planting (December), while poor quality soil needs a second release after planting. Producers claim to average 3 tons per hectare (harvested in June). Sunflowerseed is generally processed and consumed locally, but there are some sales outside the region when yields are particularly high. The meal stalk and leaves are mixed with other grains to make feed. 

Decorative palm trees and ornamental flowers are grown for both Obregon customers and shipment to neighboring Mexican states. The profit return is greater than for wheat, however the amount of year-round operating revenue required for flower production is significantly higher.

Sonora's contribution to the national cotton total has climbed above 30 percent in some years, and dropped below 20 percent in others. Cotton used to be much in evidence around the Yaqui Valley, but low international prices and limited water have reduced area. Normally planted in February-April and harvested by July-August, cotton gets a first release of water prior to or shortly after planting, depending on soil moisture conditions. Cotton usually gets a total of 5 water releases over the season. Technicians daily check the progress of the crop, which is contracted for by harvest time. Growers claim that the cottonseed is the most valuable part of the harvest, as it is sold to buyers in the United States. Yaqui Valley cotton fields frequently lay fallow the balance of the year.

Other crops of significant quantity include alfalfa, oranges, tomatoes, frijoles (beans), onions, and chili peppers.

California Norte

                Alfalfa
                Cotton 
                Sunflowers
                Watermelon
                Wheat
                Cerro Prieto Volcano

Producers in this region claim Mexican law forbids any one individual from owning more than 100 hectares of irrigated land. However, one grower can rent land from other owners and cultivate more than 100 hectares. The ejido production system of agricultural collectives prospers in the Mexicali Valley, where 20 percent of the producers are small independents. A small farm in this valley is 5-6 hectares, a medium size farm is 15 hectares. Farms greater than 20 hectares are considered large.  

Agricultural loans are available from a government bank at rates around 15 percent, with a portion of the loan given for field preparation activities prior to planting. There is little cattle grazing in this valley, as the soil is thought to be far too valuable. The Rio Colorado is the primary source of water for Baja California Norte border area, where virtually every crop is irrigated.

There are 68,000 hectares of wheat in the Mexicali Valley (about 25,000 hectares on contract), planted early December, harvested in May. Most of the wheat is sold locally for bread flour milling, some goes to Sonora state. When water supplies permit, vegetables are planted after the wheat is harvested. 

Alfalfa occupies 27,000 hectares in the Mexicali, planted in September/October, and irrigated about every 25 days thereafter. First cut usually comes in February, and continues once a month up to a total of about 7 cuts.

Mexicali Valley cotton is planted February/April, machine-harvested July/August, after which the fields are left fallow. Processors export a small amount of bales to U.S., and to the Orient.  

Other crops of significant include sunflowerseed, oranges, grasses (rye, sudan, Bermuda), dates, melons, cantaloupe, onions, asparagus, and other vegetables.

                 Morelos Dam
                 Obregon Dam
                 Obregon Dam: No Rain

Graph: Reservoir Levels

CNA is the Mexican government agency responsible for managing the nation's water resources. In general, all the water in Mexico is owned by the federal government, and the overriding policy is that human requirements take precedence over agricultural needs. While every Mexican reservoir has some portions of its reserves dedicated to human consumption, many reservoirs have no role in agriculture.

CNA employs mathematical models for each of the major crops in every water district to allocate water at the local level. Producers purchase the water by the cubic meter in advance of the crop season, the price determined each year at 5-8 percent of the anticipated production cost. The release dates and amounts are determined in a meeting between producers and CNA technicians where details such as soil types, seed types, fertilizer applications, and planting dates for each locality are taken into account.

About 36 miles from Ciudad Obregon is the Alvaro Obregon Dam, the last in a chain of three dams in the Yaqui Valley system. Most of the water passing through the gates of Obregon dam probably originates as rainfall in the mountains along the border of Sonora and Chihuahua states. CNA releases 5.7 thousand cubic meters for each hectare of crop in the Yaqui Valley, in a 24-hour process timed to deliver moisture to specific locations. CNA monitors the irrigation canals attempting to control the amount of loss and theft. Typically, when the water level at Obregon is good, wheat fields in the Yaqui Valley get 4 releases, and only 3 when the level is as low as it has been in 2000/01. The first release for wheat comes approximately 15 days before planting, the second 45-50 days after planting, the third about 90 days after planting. Other crops have schedules that overlap the water release for wheat, and computers are relied upon to maximize the hours and canal space.

The Rio Colorado is the source of inflow to Morelos Reservoir, which feeds a systems of channels across the Mexicali Valley. About 5 miles south of Morelos Dam, the main channel divides into a south and a west leg, which then sub-divide numerous times into smaller canals. Like all the distribution centers, Morelos Dam is operational 24 hours a day, with a pre-determined schedule of what crops get water during specific periods of time on specific days.