Argentine drought continues

Earlier this week the Argentine government declared a drought emergency due to the ongoing drought crisis that is crippling the country's key cattle, soy and wheat industries. Though normally dry because of the rain shadow created by the Andes Mountains to the west, the Pampas are receiving even less rain than usual and temperatures are unusually hot.

The Pampas region usually receives the bulk of its little rainfall during the summer months, between November and March. The rain in this region is absolutely necessary to maintain crop growth and for cattle grazing.

Corn production could be down up to 40 percent according to the latest estimates from the Buenos Aires Grains Exchange. 800,000 cattle have died in what the Argentine weather service is calling the worst drought in at least 35 years.

Argentina is one of the world's leading producers in soy, corn, beef and wheat and the government has butted heads several times with local farmers. The farmers have rejected the government's offer to defer taxes for a year.

In Cordoba, just north of the worst-affected parts of the Pampas, temperatures are expected to stay hot and only a slight chance of rain is in the forecast over the next five days.