Water is becoming scarce at a critical time: wheat condition declines and corn planting slows

The article analyzes water availability for Argentine crops during the 2026/27 season, under a strong or very strong El Niño event but with unevenly distributed rainfall. At the national level, 97.5% of wheat remains in normal to excellent condition and 87.7% retains adequate or optimal water availability. However, about 160,000 hectares of wheat in the core production region are already in fair condition due to water shortages, while reduced surface moisture is limiting early corn planting in the northern and southern core areas. National corn planting reached 11.1% of the projected 8.4 million hectares, while sunflower planting reached 26.6% of the expected 3 million hectares and maintains adequate or optimal water conditions.