Chicharrita: Argentina records high pressure from the corn leafhopper and may have already lost 10 million tons

An old acquaintance and one of the main enemies of Brazilian corn producers, the leafhopper is also spreading in Argentina and is already bringing major impacts to cereal production across the country. During the month of April, the Rosario Cereal Exchange reduced Argentina's corn production expectations by 6.5 million tons, especially due to damage caused by diseases transmitted by the leafhopper, or chicharrita, as the pest is known there. Previously, the Buenos Aires Grain Exchange had also cut 2 million tons from its projections. “Yes, there are losses, but it is still difficult to count. Between 2 and 3 million tons were certainly lost, but it was not such a widespread problem, it affected more of the producing region”, reports Brandalizze Consulting Market Analyst, Vlamir Brandalizze. Director of Globaltecnos in Argentina, Sebastian Gavalda, believes in even more drastic numbers of losses, reaching up to 10 million tons already consolidated, which would be more than 18% loss ...