Emerging drought in southern Argentina may be from a growing La Nina influence.
Growing conditions in Buenos Aires province have been unfavorable for corn development in October, too cool and dry. Further north, corn is off to a favorable start with ample field moisture and moderate temperatures in Cordoba, Santa Fe and Entre Rios.
Buenos Aires has been unusually cold in late October, experiencing frost on 2-3 nights in the past week. A hard freeze has not occurred, however. The weather has been especially unfavorable for corn in the central and western growing areas of the province.
Emerging drought in Buenos Aires is important, since this southern province is usually the first to manifest drought when the La Nina is in effect.
Scientists in the United States and Australia are divided on how strong La Nina may be. Both the Australia Bureau of Meteorology and the Climate Prediction Center acknowledge La Nina is in effect, based on colder than normal equatorial seas in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
A rather weak La Nina is projected by the Australia Bureau of Meteorology, compared to last year's very strong event. The Climate Prediction Center disagrees holding to a forecast for a strong event December-February.
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