In response to the growing threat of the corn leafhopper, an insect vector of the Spiroplasma kunkeli bacteria, a lethal disease for cereal crops, national deputies Luis Picat and Martin Ardohain have presented a project to declare an agricultural emergency. The project aims to provide tax benefits to affected farmers such as payment exemptions for income tax. Additionally, it proposes zoning to determine affected areas using satellite images.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, along with technical teams from the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA), are requested to establish management protocols for producers based on regional differences. This is necessary due to the significant impact of the disease on corn crops and its spread to new provinces like Córdoba, Santa Fe, Entre Ríos and La Pampa.
According to experts, this year has seen the most abundant population of leafhoppers in the last decade. The Buenos Aires Cereal Exchange has already reduced the corn harvest forecast due to the damage caused by the leafhopper and heat waves. Producers estimate even greater losses than projected.
The affected regions include central Santa Fe, northeast Córdoba, and western Entre Ríos where severe outbreaks of the disease have led to significant production losses. Despite its small size, the corn leafhopper is a persistent carrier of the Spiroplasma kunkelii bacteria causing recurrent diseases in agricultural regions.
Overall, coordinated efforts are needed to address this agricultural emergency and mitigate its impact on cereal crops in affected provinces.