In August, the seasonal shift marks the end of the agricultural year and the start of a new cycle. As September arrives, a fresh season begins, yet for many producers in Cordoba, expectations are modest because agricultural organizations offer little positive guidance amid ongoing hardship. The area’s farmers face a difficult reality that colors the whole outlook with caution and uncertainty.
A primary factor behind the bleak assessment is drought. The persistent lack of water compounds an already challenging landscape in the Cordovan countryside. The conflict in Ukraine has further amplified costs, pushing up the price of inputs and tightening margins for local growers and producers.
From this lack of water, several direct consequences emerge. Organizations such as Asaja and COAG stress that harvests are shorter than usual, with many farms cutting back on certain crops. Some fields are left unplanted when irrigation is insufficient or when water must be allocated to essential tree maintenance, particularly olive, orange, and almond groves.
Cattle farming is now especially vulnerable. When natural forage is scarce, ranchers must seek external feed and supplementary support, which raises overall production costs. The scarcity of water for livestock and the uphill battle to meet feeding needs have led many ranchers to consider culling in order to reduce losses, a situation highlighted by Carmen Quintero, the general secretary of COAG Córdoba.
The drought has also affected oil production, with shortages appearing in several products linked to this sector. Prices across the board are rising as a result, reflecting tighter supply chains and higher production costs.
Drought’s reach extends to citrus crops as well. The apples of the orchard are affected by stress, with smaller final yields and a noticeable impact on fruit quality. Corn, a staple in many farming systems, has struggled as well; much of the crop could not be grown to expected levels, with some fields repurposed to provide straw for animal feed due to poor grain yields.
Garlic has not escaped the impact either. Yields and cultivated land have fallen, fueled by irrigation anxieties and the rising costs of production. In some cases, fruit quality has suffered, with yields below what markets would deem desirable.
Asaja and COAG emphasize that September and the broader autumn season hold the key to relief. The question remains whether rainfall will be generous enough to ease irrigation demands and stabilize production costs. In Cordoba, growers await more favorable weather while navigating tightened finances and uncertain harvest outcomes (COAG Córdoba).