Climate and topography variations divide Argentina into six distinct
regions, only one of which—the Pampa—is conducive to widespread
cultivation of grains and oilseeds. The Pampa is located in the east-central
part of the country and occupies an area slightly more than 50 million
hectares, about the size of the States of Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri
combined. USDA's Major
World Crop Areas and Climatic Profiles provides considerable detail
on Argentina's crop production conditions.
The typical producer in the Pampa (see map)
operates a joint grain-oilseed-livestock enterprise, with each activity
competing for land. More than 97 percent of total beef output is
produced from cattle that are grazed on pasture, either native or
improved (planted to grasses or small grains). Crop production and
cattle raising are highly complementary, given the practice of rotating
crops with sown pastures to maintain soil fertility. In making year-to-year
decisions about the mix of crops and pastures, the producer is often
influenced as much by weather conditions, ages and numbers of cattle
on hand, and crop rotation considerations, as by current prices.
Key statistics
Map
for more information, contact:
Jim Stout or Mary
Burfisher
web administration: webadmin@ers.usda.gov
page updated: August 26, 2002
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