Although it started in mid May, farmers completed wheat planting in the region in the second week of June, under very good conditions. The soil moisture profile was good; planting of short cycle varieties continued until mid-July. Farmers’ main goal was coverage.

Tillering was under adequate humidity, with unusual rains in August that benefited the development of the crop. However, high temperatures negatively impacted on crop development by forcing rapid growth. Early in the reproductive stage, humidity affected long cycle varieties and led to wheat rust in some fields. By late September, drought and daily temperatures above 30°C affected filling and maturity. Short cycle varieties were affected the most since flowering started under no rain.

There were severe cases of aphids, trips and rust.

Early harvest started in late September, in fields planted with intermediate to long cycle varieties. Harvesting was delayed in other areas by rains and drizzles and could only began by mid October. This weather conditions continued all along harvest, which extended till the second week of November.

Early planting gave the best yields thanks to water availability until grain filling. In some fields, late planting was affected by insufficient soil moisture levels recorded since early flowering or even before this stage. Yields ranged from 700 to 2,200 kg/h, with an average yield in the province of Chaco of 1,500 kg/h.

Farmers planted winter wheat mainly as coverage crop, to control weeds. Good yields compensated the smaller wheat acreage when compared to the previous year campaign.

SUBREGION DATA

In this sub region the wheat production was 369.720 tons., the 3,3 % of the national total. Were sampled 10.000 tons., the 2,7 % of the sub region production.