Argentina’s Rosario grains exchange has revised down its projection for the country’s 2023/24 corn harvest to 50.5 million metric tons, citing “unprecedented” damage caused by the spiroplasma disease carried by leafhoppers. This adjustment comes after the exchange had previously forecast a 57 million ton harvest.
The exchange described the impact of spiroplasma as unparalleled in Argentina, stating, “This is the first time since estimates have been made that such significant damage has been seen from a non-climatic factor.” The report also highlighted the potential for the disease to continue affecting the current season, with the province of Chaco likely being the most impacted. Additionally, crops were affected due to delayed planting, attributed to early-season water scarcity.
Moreover, the exchange emphasized the expanding and evolving nature of the phenomenon, noting the emergence of strong symptoms in areas located far from the endemic zones. Leafhoppers, carriers of the detrimental spiroplasma disease, tend to proliferate in hot and dry conditions, contributing to the spread of the disease.