Drought in Argentina
Introduction
Argentina's drought is the worst on record, experts say. Farmers in the main grain growing regions are especially hard hit by the drought. Argentina's corn and wheat production may drop 45% this year. The lack of rain and the ensuing crop losses have forced many farmers to let workers go. The country's cattle industry is also being hurt by dry weather. Soybeans plantings, which begin late in the season compared with corn and wheat, are expected to be unaffected by dry weather. The drought may cause bread prices to rise in Argentina as well as other countries that import Argentine grain."
Argentina's drought is the worst on record, experts say.
Drought is a natural phenomenon. In fact, it's the most common type of weather condition on Earth.
Drought is a global problem that affects human activity and ecosystems alike. The UN estimates that by 2050, 1.8 billion people will be affected by drought across the globe.
Drought can be caused by many factors including lack of rain (which can lead to water shortages), but also human activity—for example, deforestation reduces the amount of water held in trees' roots and leaves which are then deposited into rivers or lakes as rainfall or snow melts; or when we build dams that block rivers from flowing naturally through their watersheds.
Farmers in the main grain growing regions are especially hard hit by the drought.
The shortage of water is affecting crops in the main grain-growing regions of Argentina, which produce about 40% of the country's soybeans and 25% of its corn. Farmers are struggling to find water for their crops, which are wilting in fields. Farmers have let go thousands of workers because they don't have enough money to pay them.
Argentina's corn and wheat production may drop 45% this year.
Argentina's corn and wheat production may drop 45% this year, according to the Argentine Rural Society. The country currently produces around 40 million tons of corn and 12 million tons of wheat each year. The majority of all these crops are exported to other countries, but Argentina also uses some domestically for animal feed or to make flour for its people.
In 2016, Argentina grew 145 million hectares (560 million acres) of corn and 89 million hectares (224 million acres) of wheat—the most in its history so far! These fields produced enough food to feed over 200 million people every year! But now it looks like those fields could get a lot more bare this season...
The lack of rain and the ensuing crop losses have forced many farmers to let workers go.
The lack of rain and the ensuing crop losses have forced many farmers to let workers go. This has not only left them unemployed, but also unable to afford food for themselves and their families. As a result, workers are leaving rural communities in search of more stable employment opportunities in urban areas. Unfortunately, these cities are already struggling with their own water scarcity problems due to the drought as well; thus, they may not have the resources necessary to handle an influx of people seeking relief from unemployment and poverty.
The country's cattle industry is also being hurt by the drought conditions.
As the drought conditions continue to spread across Argentina, the country's cattle industry is also being hurt by the drought conditions. The cost of raising cattle has risen while farmers are selling their cattle at lower prices. The lack of rain and grazing land has forced many ranchers to let go of employees or sell off their herds.
The problem isn't just affecting individual farmers; it's also impacting Argentina's overall economy. In July 2018, President Mauricio Macri raised taxes on agricultural exports including soybeans and corn (which are often used as an ingredient in animal feed). This action came in response to a decision by China not to buy Argentine meat products because they had been tainted with clenbuterol—a banned drug that causes heart failure in humans but helps increase muscle mass in animals—at some point during their production process.
Soybeans plantings, which begin late in the season compared with corn and wheat, are expected to be unaffected by dry weather.
The Argentine soybean crop, which accounts for about 30% of the world's supply and is planted in late summer, is not expected to be affected by drought.
Soybeans are considered more drought resistant than corn and wheat because they do not need as much water during their growing season. Soybean planting is also done later in the year than corn and wheat, so it will not be affected as much by dry conditions.
The country exports nearly all its soybeans, making it a major source of foreign currency for Argentina.
The drought may cause bread prices to rise in Argentina as well as other countries that import Argentine grain.
The drought and resulting food shortages may have a significant impact on Argentina's grain exports. The country is a major exporter of grain to the United States, Europe and other countries in South America. It also exports grain to countries in Africa and Asia. If you live in one of these regions and are concerned about the impact on prices for your favorite foods, consider buying up any bargains now before they're gone!
Local governments are working with farmers and large agribusinesses to build more water storage facilities and irrigation canals.
Local governments are working with farmers and large agribusinesses to build more water storage facilities and irrigation canals. This will help the farmers produce more crops in the future, as well as store water for future years.
The impact of a bad drought can be felt for some time after it ends
The impact of a drought can last for years, even after the drought itself has ended. During the initial stages of a drought, there are usually higher food prices as farmers stop planting and try to sell what they have already grown. This can have a significant impact on local economies by reducing spending power and employment opportunities in agriculture-related industries.
After the initial growing season ends without enough rainfall, you may also see lower crop yields for years to come if your soil isn't fertile enough to support healthy growth without watering it every day—and even then it might not be enough. If you get heavy rains before any crops have matured and dried out completely, this could cause mold or rot that ruins everything before anyone has harvested it! In some cases where severe droughts occur repeatedly over multiple seasons (particularly if those seasons aren't consecutive), farmers may decide it's more work than their land is worth trying again after each failure due to lack of rainwater drainage capabilities throughout their fields; this means many people will lose jobs because they're no longer needed anymore after prolonged periods lacking sufficient hydration levels during each growing season."
Conclusion
As Argentina's drought conditions continue, the government and farmers will work together to find ways to adapt and survive in this increasingly challenging environment.
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