The leafhopper continues to wreak havoc on the corn. The Buenos Aires Grain Exchange once again cut the cereal harvest to 52 million tons, 4.5 million tons less than what had been estimated in February, which means losses of almost US$900 million.
The leafhopper is an insect that persistently and propagatively transmits the bacteria Spiroplasma kunkelii, which causes a disease that has shown a recurring incidence in the north of the country; However, in recent weeks the situation began to become more complex across the entire agricultural area.
This pest
causes serious losses in yields
, generating serious economic and productive consequences. Its presence is manifested in the rapid degradation of crops, with a marked decrease in their growth and yield.
According to data from the Buenos Aires Grain Exchange, the corn harvest for commercial grain reaches 11.1% of the 7.2 million hectares planted nationwide. The average weekly yield in the core area was 10,400 kilos, which reflects very good results for the early one.
In any case, the constant report of population growth of the leafhopper, along with the appearance of characteristic symptoms of the infection associated with this pest, extends to latitudes close to the department of General Roca (Córdoba) and adds to the already affected regions. mentioned in previous reports.
It should be remembered that the south and north-central of Córdoba provide 28% of the total corn and that the proportion of late planting is 92% in that region. Likewise, to the south of the province of Santiago del Estero the expected yields drop significantly due to the impact of the disease, but towards the north the losses reported are mainly due to the lack of humidity in the profiles. Meanwhile, in the northeast of Buenos Aires and in San Luis, although the disease has also been present, the incidence so far is lower.
In this context,
the calculation of corn production is 52 million tons,
4.5 million less than the projection for the month of February, although the entity does not rule out "new adjustments" given that the real impact of the damage is still "It continues to be evaluated." 15 days ago it had already reduced the estimate to 54 million tons.
According to the calculations of analyst
Gustavo López
, president of Agritrend, this lower production will reduce the entry of dollars into the country. Having a Fob value of US% 180-US$190, about US$850 million would stop earning. And the State, through withholdings (12%), loses more than US$ 100 million.
Corn is one of the main products that Argentina exports. According to Indec data, in 2023 corn led the ranking of exports in volume, with 23.9 million tons. And it came in second place in revenue, with US$6.2 billion.