InfoAg 2003InfoAg 2003Indianapolis, July 30-August 1 Indianapolis, July 30-August 1 20032003

Fernando O. GarcíaFernando O. García

www.inpofos.orgwww.inpofos.org

Grain Production Systems Grain Production Systems in Argentinain Argentina

AcassusoAcassuso

Argentina

Bolivia

Chile

Paraguay

Uruguay

INPOFOS Southern ConeINPOFOS Southern ConeThe RegionThe Region

Total Area(thousand km2)

Population(millions)

Source: World Bank

36

8

15

5

3

2780

1099

757

177

407

TotalTotal 676752205220

USAUSA 27027093749374

Grain Crops in the Southern ConeGrain Crops in the Southern Cone

Sources: SAGPyA (2003), INE (2000), ODEPA (2002), DCEA-MAG (2000) and MGAyP (2001) Sources: SAGPyA (2003), INE (2000), ODEPA (2002), DCEA-MAG (2000) and MGAyP (2001)

0

3000

6000

9000

12000

15000

Soybeans Corn Wheat

Are

a (

tho

us

an

d h

a) Argentina Bolivia

Chile ParaguayUruguay

1443514435

38173817

69516951

AreaArea

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

Soybeans Corn Wheat

Pro

du

cti

on

(th

ou

sa

nd

t) Argentina Bolivia

Chile Paraguay

Uruguay

3920639206

17322173221477414774

ProductionProduction

40°

36°

32°

28°

Buenos Aires

Entre Ríos

Santa Fe

Córdoba

La Pampa

The Pampas region of ArgentinaThe Pampas region of Argentina

Map developed with ArcView - ESRI

IndianapolisIndianapolis

Southern TexasSouthern Texas

40 inches

20 inches

Crop Production in ArgentinaCrop Production in Argentina1991-20021991-2002

05000

10000150002000025000300003500040000

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002

Pro

duct

ion (

1,0

00 t

n) Corn Soybean

Wheat Sunflower

Source: SENASA-SAGPyASource: SENASA-SAGPyA

Crop Area in ArgentinaCrop Area in Argentina1991-20021991-2002

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002

Are

a (

1,0

00 h

a)

Corn Soybean

Wheat Sunflower

Source: SENASA-SAGPyASource: SENASA-SAGPyA

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002

Yie

ld (

kg/h

a)

Corn SoybeanWheat Sunflower

77.7 bu/A

41.1 bu/A

29.9 bu/A

Yield evolution of grain Yield evolution of grain cropscrops

1991-20021991-2002

Source: SENASA-SAGPyASource: SENASA-SAGPyA

Relative Increases in Production, Area and Yield Relative Increases in Production, Area and Yield of the Main Crops of Argentina between 1991 of the Main Crops of Argentina between 1991 and 2002and 2002

Corn Soybeans Wheat Sunflower

--------------- % ---------------

Production 40 209 24 11

Area 14 152 29 -13

Yield 23 23 1 28

Continuous SoyContinuous SoyCottonCottonWheat/SoyWheat/SoySunflower/SoySunflower/Soy PasturesPastures

Rice - PasturesRice - PasturesSoy - RiceSoy - Rice

SugarcaneSugarcaneContinuous SoyContinuous SoySoy – CornSoy – CornWheat/SoyWheat/Soy

Continuous SoyContinuous SoyWheat/SoyWheat/SoyCorn – Wheat/SoyCorn – Wheat/SoyCorn – Soy - Wheat/SoyCorn – Soy - Wheat/Soy

PasturesPasturesContinuous SoyContinuous SoyCorn - SoyCorn - Soy

PasturesPasturesWheat – SunflowerWheat – SunflowerCorn – Wheat/SoyCorn – Wheat/SoyCorn – Soy - WheatCorn – Soy - Wheat

PasturesPasturesWheat – SunflowerWheat – SunflowerWheat – BarleyWheat – BarleyWheat - FallowWheat - FallowCorn – Soy - WheatCorn – Soy - Wheat

Rotations and SequencesRotations and Sequences

0

200000

400000

600000

800000

1980/81 1984/85 1988/89 1992/93 1996/97 2000/01

Are

a (

ha

)

Chaco

Santiago de Estero

Entre Ríos

0

500000

1000000

1500000

2000000

2500000

3000000

3500000

1980/81 1984/85 1988/89 1992/93 1996/97 2000/01

Are

a (

ha

)

Santa Fe

Cordoba

Buenos Aires

So

ybea

ns:

In

crea

ses

in A

rea

by

Pro

vin

ceS

oyb

ean

s: I

ncr

ease

s in

Are

a b

y P

rovi

nce

Area planted to Soybeans in the County of CaserosArea planted to Soybeans in the County of CaserosSouth-Central Santa Fe - Soybean Belt of Argentina - 2000/01South-Central Santa Fe - Soybean Belt of Argentina - 2000/01

Source: G. Cordone (INTA Casilda)

Why is the planted area and Why is the planted area and production increasing?production increasing?

Improved and stable economy Good grain international prices in the mid 90’s Climate change: Better precipitation regime in

the western Pampas Expansion of no-tillage GR Soybean Varieties Improved crop management (hybrids,

varieties, weed and pests control, etc) Greater use of fertilizers

Area under No-Tillage in ArgentinaArea under No-Tillage in Argentina

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002

Are

a u

nd

er N

T (

tho

usa

nd

ha) 14,200,000 ha in 2001/0214,200,000 ha in 2001/02

51% of the total cropped area51% of the total cropped area

Source: AAPRESID (2003)Source: AAPRESID (2003)

GR Soybeans expansion in GR Soybeans expansion in ArgentinaArgentina

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Year

Are

a (t

ho

usa

nd

ha)

Total Soybeans

GR Soybeans

Fertilizer consumption in Argentina, 1991-2001Fertilizer consumption in Argentina, 1991-2001Source: SENASA-SAGPyA

0

500

1000

1500

2000

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000

Year

Co

ns

um

pti

on

(th

ou

sa

nd

to

n) Others

P fertilizers

N fertilizers

Total

1991-1996

1996-2001

1991-2001

Total N fertilizers P fertilizers Others

257 141 104 13

80 58 21 -

166 88 69 9

Period

Annual rate of increase (thousand ton per year)

Economics of grain production for Economics of grain production for the Northern Pampasthe Northern Pampas

Soybeans Corn Wheat Soybeans II

Price ($/bu)

4.3 1.9 2.8 4.3

Yield (bu/acre)

60 159 48 45

Gross Income ($/A)

255 302 135 191

Net Income ($/A)

202 172 103 147

Expenses ($/A)

45 88 56 36

Gross Margin($/A)

157 84 47 111

Potential Growth of Grain Crop Production

Current grain production of 72 million t (35 million t soybeans)

Potential for 2011/12 of 110 million t (60% soybeans)

Increases in planted area of soybeans in the northeastern and northwestern regions

Narrow the yield gap

Current and Potential Yield for Advanced Current and Potential Yield for Advanced Technology FarmersTechnology Farmers

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

Yie

ld (

bu/A)

Wheat South Corn North Soybean North

Current

Potential

+ 41%

+ 42%

+ 30%

Soybean fertilization at Videla (Santa Soybean fertilization at Videla (Santa Fe)Fe) 2002/03 2002/03

H. Vivas y H. Fontanetto – EEA INTA RafaelaH. Vivas y H. Fontanetto – EEA INTA Rafaela

P + SP + S CheckCheck64 bu/A64 bu/A 46 bu/A46 bu/A

CREA Southern Santa FeBalducchi, Teodelina, Santa Fe

2000/01

Check89 bu/A

NPS134 bu/A

44 bu/A44 bu/A+ 49%+ 49%

CREA Southern Santa Fe La Marta, Canals, Córdoba

2000/01

Check144 bu/A

NPS192 bu/A

47 bu/A47 bu/A+ 33%+ 33%

Balducchi (Santa Fe) 2001-02

CREA Southern Santa Fe

Thomas et al. (2002)

Check 28 bu/A

Wheat Wheat FertilizationFertilization

NPS 54 bu/A

Constraints for increasing grain crop production in Argentina

Instability of the economy in the country Lack of credit Decline in soil fertility because of low nutrient

use, especially in soybeans Sustainability of rotations, soybeans

monoculture! Changes in climate? Potential international market restrictions for

GMO soybeans and corn

Nutrient Removal and Application in Wheat, Nutrient Removal and Application in Wheat, Corn, Soybean and SunflowerCorn, Soybean and Sunflower

Argentina - 2000/01

NPK Application

3

340

119

0

300

600

900

1200

N P K1,

000

ton

s

NPK Removal

0

300

600

900

1200

N P K

1,00

0 to

ns

SunflowerSoybeanWheatCorn

13921392

280280

657657

In 2000/01, nutrient application was 24%, 42%, and less In 2000/01, nutrient application was 24%, 42%, and less than 1% of the N, P, and K extracted per year, respectivelythan 1% of the N, P, and K extracted per year, respectively

Potential needs of 1 million ton N, 160 thousand ton P, Potential needs of 1 million ton N, 160 thousand ton P, and 650 thousand ton Kand 650 thousand ton K

NPKS Removal

0

300

600

900

1200

N P K S

thousa

nd t

on

SunflowerSoybeanWheatCorn

10901090

228228

475475

NPKS Application

14.73.7

365

116

0

300

600

900

1200

N P K Sth

ousa

nd t

on

Nutrient Removal and Application in Wheat, Corn, Nutrient Removal and Application in Wheat, Corn, Soybean and SunflowerSoybean and Sunflower

Argentina - Average 1996/2001

In the period 1996-2001, nutrient application was 29%, In the period 1996-2001, nutrient application was 29%, 45%, less than 1%, and 9% of the N, P, K, and S removed 45%, less than 1%, and 9% of the N, P, K, and S removed

per year, respectivelyper year, respectively

Area I : Low (< 10 ppm)Area I : Low (< 10 ppm)Area II : Medium (10-20 ppm)Area II : Medium (10-20 ppm)Area III : Adequate (> 20 ppm)Area III : Adequate (> 20 ppm)

Darwich, 1980, 1993 and 1999

P availability in the Pampas regionP availability in the Pampas region

Precision Agriculture in ArgentinaPrecision Agriculture in Argentina

• Adoption of PA in Argentina started when INTA launched in 1996 a National Project of Precision Agriculture at EEA INTA Manfredi (Cordoba) leaded by Mario Bragachini (www.agriculturadeprecision.org)

• Yield monitors, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) guidance and satellite images are increasingly used in large operations, while variable rate application (VRA) is rare.

• Constraints for the adoption of PA are: high investment cost, high risk, low management-induced soil variability, and the widespread use of custom operators.

• Adoption of PA is supported from: large farm operations with relatively high capital per worker, highly educated farm management, technology available from abroad, need for yield information, and ease of pooling data.

• Remote sensing for agriculture in Argentina is becoming increasingly used.• The potential of precision farming in Argentina’s agriculture is to reduce

costs in grain production, to increase productivity and make input use more efficient.

• The challenge is to manage our agronomic knowledge to put these tools to work.

Source: Bragachini et al., 2002; Bongiovanni, 2003 (www.agriculturadeprecision.org)Source: Bragachini et al., 2002; Bongiovanni, 2003 (www.agriculturadeprecision.org)

Current Adoption and Evolution of Precision Agriculture Technologies in Argentina (Bongiovanni, 2003)

Equipment (units) 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Yield monitors in combines TOTAL 50 200 300 450 560 600

Yield monitors with GPS receiver 25 75 155 270 400 420

Yield monitors without GPS 25 125 145 180 160 180

VRT planters and fertilizer applicators 3 4 5 6 10 12

GPS guidance systems for airplanes 35 60 100 160 200 230

GPS guidance for ground applicators 0 10 70 200 400 500

Chlorophyll sensor for VRT-nitrogen 0 0 2 2 4 5

More information at www.agriculturadeprecision.orgMore information at www.agriculturadeprecision.org