Argentine farmers are expected to increase their soy planting area for the 2024/25 season due to challenges faced by the corn crop, primarily caused by dry weather and concerns over disease spread by the leafhopper insect. The Rosario grains exchange reports that the soy planting area is projected to reach 17.7 million hectares, a 7.5% increase from the previous season, with an estimated harvest between 52 million and 53 million metric tons.
In contrast, the corn planting area is anticipated to decline significantly, potentially dropping by 21% to around 8 million hectares. Farmers are facing pressure to plant early to mitigate the effects of spiroplasma bacteria carried by leafhoppers, which can stunt crop growth. However, the exchange noted that September rains have not materialized, leading to sub-optimal soil moisture conditions in the central growing region. As a result, farmers are increasingly reliant on future rainfall.