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There are several reasons for this decline, with the main one being a bacterium, Spiroplasma kunkelii, transmitted by the leafhopper. Until recently, the disease that causes corn stunting was endemic to the north of the country, but the leafhopper population grew alarmingly, expanding territorially, in the last season. It significantly affected corn in central Argentina and was even present in the south of the Pampas region.
This new season poses a very difficult and highly uncertain outlook for corn, which is reflected in a strong delay in input sales. Even in the best-case scenario, in which it rains in the spring as the sector expects, a large part of the Argentine corn planting would be concentrated in early dates and with a high climatic risk due to the lack of rains in the critical period, that is, between December and January.
With the level of planting, Argentina should have exceeded 67 million tons (Mt), the end of its harvest brings a production of 49 Mt. The leafhopper has been responsible for 18 Mt of corn not being realized.
August 15, 2024/ Rosario Stock Exchange/ Argentina.
www.bcr.com.ar
