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December 3, 1999
SOIL MOISTURE REMAINS LOW IN ARGENTINA’S COTTON REGION
Dry conditions continue in Chaco province, Argentina's principal cotton producing province, and in adjacent cotton-growing areas. Early November began with much needed rainfall providing surface moisture to enable planting. However the rain was short-lived and dryness prevailed for the remainder of the month (see mid-November and end-of-month soil moisture conditions). Recent rainfall the last few days is not expected to increase soil moisture enough to significantly improve conditions for sowing and establishment. Surface soil moisture has been very low for several weeks. Subsurface soil moisture needed for plant development is also low, and has been for several months.
Soil moisture conditions for the remainder of the country’s growing regions are generally better, although rainfall so far this season is still below normal. Southern Santa Fe and Entre Rios provinces have been persistently dry. Official reports indicate planting of summer crops is generally progressing at a pace equal to or ahead of last year. As of November 26, 77 percent of the corn area, 42 percent of soybean area and 90 percent of sunflowerseed area have been sown. Harvest of the wheat crop is 13 percent complete with harvest activity just beginning in northern Buenos Aires province.
For more information, contact Maria Anulacion with the Production Estimates and Crop Assessment Division on (202) 690-0139 or by e-mail at AnulacionM@fas.usda.gov.
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