Argentina’s Soy Farmers Race Against Time—and Rain—to Salvage Critical Harvest

Argentine soy farmers are working around the clock to harvest their rain-delayed crop before new storms hit, battling muddy fields and fungal risks to salvage a harvest vital to the country’s dollar-starved economy.

Key Challenges:

• Relentless Rains: 580mm (23 inches) since February have delayed harvesting, leaving 35% of soy fields unharvested (vs. 5-year average).
• Fungus & Pod Damage: Wet conditions threaten yield losses, forcing farmers to harvest even in mud, risking soil compaction.
• Slow Sales: Just 28.7% of soy sold this season—the slowest pace in 11 years—as delayed harvests squeeze export revenues.

Economic Stakes:

• Argentina, the world’s top soy oil/meal exporter, needs soy dollars to replenish depleted foreign reserves.
• The Buenos Aires Grains Exchange estimates 50M-ton crop, but weather risks loom.