September 21, 2011

Month-By-Month Crop Production Cycle for Argentina

I have listed the cropping sequence and the general weather patterns that can be expected in Argentina for each month.

• Sunflower planting begins in northern Argentina.
• Corn planting begins in northern Argentina and progresses southward.
• Wheat is in vegetative development to heading phase.
• Temperatures in northern Argentina can be quite warm.
• Temperatures in central Argentina warming up to 70's-80's, but cool spells still possible.
• Rainfall in the form of spring showers.

• This is the main corn-planting month, especially in central Argentina.
• Finish sunflower planting.
• Begin early soybean planting in central Argentina.
• Wheat is moving from heading to grain filling phase.
• Temperatures warming up to the 80's or hotter.
• Rainfall can be variable.

• Corn planting complete in central Argentina.
• Corn pollination starts in northern Argentina.
• Soybean planting in full swing.
• Wheat moving from grain filling to maturity and wheat harvest begins.
• Sunflowers are flowering.
• Temperatures now at summertime levels, heat waves are possible.
• Summertime rains usually become more common.

• Last corn planted in far southern Argentina.
• Corn beginning to pollinate in central Argentina.
• Corn in northern Argentina moving from grain filling to maturity.
• Finish planting full season soybeans, plant double crop soybeans after wheat harvest.
• Most of wheat harvested by the end of the month.
• Temperatures now approaching maximum summer highs.
• Rainfall usually abundant, but can have dry spells.

• Early corn in northern Argentina approaching maturity.
• Corn moving from pollination to grain filling in central Argentina.
• By end of month, some early corn and sunflowers are starting to be harvested.
• Finish wheat harvest by early January.
• Finish planting double crop soybeans by early January.
• Full season soybeans flowering and starting to set pods.
• Maximum summer temperatures.
• Summer rains usually abundant, but can have dry spells.

• More corn and sunflowers now being harvested.
• Corn in central Argentina entering grain-filling phase.
• Full season soybeans setting and filling pods.
• Double crop soybeans flowering.
• Sunflower harvest in full swing.
• Maximum summer temperatures, but starting to cool by end of month.
• Normal summer rainfall, may start to get lighter by end of month.

• Corn harvest in full swing, remaining corn maturing.
• Main month for soybean pod filling.
• Harvest begins on early maturing soybeans.
• Sunflower harvest completed.
• Temperatures cooling down.
• Rainfall getting lighter.

• Corn harvest is wrapping up.
• Full season soybean harvest in full swing.
• Start to plant winter small grain crops.
• Temperatures cooling to "fall-like" levels.
• Rainfall continues to get lighter.

• Finish harvesting full season soybeans.
• Harvesting double crop soybeans.
• Main month for planting winter small grains.
• Temperatures continue cooling.
• Moderate rainfall.

• This is the Argentine winter.
• Temperatures in northern Argentina are pleasant, temperatures in central Argentina are cool and frosts can be common, temperatures in southern Argentina are cold with snow possible.
• Winter rains/snow can occur at any time.
• Finish planting winter small grain crops in June.
• Finish harvesting double crop soybeans in June.
• Farmers are actively marketing their grain and watching for selling opportunities due to potential weather problems in the U.S.
• Farmers are making plans for the next growing season and purchasing their inputs.
• By the end of August early spring-like temperatures starting to return.