Monthly Philippine Agro-climatic Review and Outlook

July 2024

  • During the month of July, the weather systems that affected the country were the southwest monsoon, easterlies, intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), low-pressure area (LPA), tropical cyclones, and localized thunderstorms.
  • According to the Situation Reports of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (as of August 9, 2024), a total of 64,442 farmers and fisherfolks were affected by the combined effects of southwest monsoon, Tropical Depression Butchoy (19 – 20 July), and Typhoon Carina (19 – 25 July), leading to an estimated cost of damage to agriculture worth Php 4,260,269,187.65.
  • Generally, near to above normal rainfall conditions were experienced in most parts of the country except for some areas in Isabela, Camarines Sur, and Palawan where below to near normal rainfall are observed (Figure 1). Baguio City Synoptic Station recorded the highest rainfall amount for the month of July (1048.8 mm), followed by BSU Agromet Station in Benguet (1019.5 mm) and DMMSU Bacnotan Agromet Station in La Union (885.9 mm).
  • Derived Soil Moisture Condition (rainfed areas; Figure 3):
    • Wet – Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Nueva Vizcaya, Pampanga, Tarlac, Cordillera Administrative Region, National Capital Region, Zambales, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Rizal, Quezon, Mindoro Provinces, Romblon, northern Palawan, Camarines Norte, Albay, Masbate, Catanduanes, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Eastern Visayas, Bukidnon, Davao Region, and Lanao del Sur
    • Moist – Isabela, Mulanay, Camarines Sur, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Southern Leyte, Zamboanga Peninsula, Misamis Oriental and Surigao del Norte
    • Dry – Rest of the country
  • Generally, slightly below average to way above average mean surface air temperatures were observed across the country (Figure 2). Tuguegarao City Synoptic Station recorded the highest maximum temperature of 37.2°C (July 12) while the coldest temperature was recorded in BSU Synoptic Station in La Trinidad, Benguet at 16.0°C (July 4).
  • Press Release: LA NIÑA ALERT (as of 12 July 2024)
La Niña Alert was raised by DOST-PAGASA due to the further cooling of the sea surface temperatures (SSTs) across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific (CEEP). Most climate models combined with expert judgements suggest 70% chance of La Niña forming in August-September-October (ASO) 2024 season and is likely to persist until the first quarter of 2025. Meanwhile, ENSO-neutral conditions are still present in the tropical Pacific.
  • Land and Seedbed Preparation (including preparation for garden plot, urban gardening, and upland farms), (irrigated and rainfed farms)
  • Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, National Capital Region, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Caraga and BARMM
  • Planting and Transplanting (broadcasting / direct seeding – for rice, corn, conventional way/ by rows - other cash crops)
  • Rice – Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and Caraga
  • Corn – Cagayan Valley, Northern Mindanao, and Davao Region
  • Vegetative Stage (tillering, head development; growing – other cash crops)
  • Rice – Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, and SOCCSKSARGEN
  • Corn – Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, MIMAROPA, Eastern Visayas, Davao Region, and SOCCSKSARGEN
  • Eggplant, lemongrass, pandan, chayote, pechay, string bean, patola, ampalaya, okra, alukon, malunggay, mustard, kangkong, spinach, alugbati, broccoli, bok choy, radish, cauliflower, beets, potato, celery, kinchay, Baguio beans, cadios, soybean, cowpeas, lettuce, cucumber, cabbage, carrot, talinum, jute, squash, sweet potato, cassava, mung bean, peanut, tomato, camote tops, upo, long pepper, chili pepper, turmeric, ginger, onion, onion leeks, sweet pepper, fern leaves, taro, ube, yam, kamias, kale, mushroom, sugarcane, guava, star apple, rambutan, sineguelas, catmon, cashew, pineapple, jackfruit, mangosteen, marang, pomelo, papaya, banana, guyabano, pili, condol, dragon fruit, lanzones, dalandan, avocado, watermelon, tamarind, cotton, coconut, lemon, limes, strawberry, mango, santol, pomelo, orange, durian, aratilis, longgan, honeydew, calamansi, rubber, abaca, cacao, coffee, and tobacco
  • Reproductive Stage (Heading – rice; Tasseling/Silking – corn)
  • Rice – Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, and SOCCSKSARGEN
  • Corn – Cagayan Valley, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao Region, SOCCSKSARGEN, and BARMM
  • Maturing/Ripening
  • Rice – Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, SOCCSKSARGEN, and BARMM
  • Corn – Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao Region, SOCCSKSARGEN, and BARMM
  • Harvesting Stage
  • Rice – Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, MIMAROPA, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, SOCCSKSARGEN, Caraga, and BARMM
  • Corn – Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Caraga, and BARMM
  • Squash, ampalaya, eggplant, string bean, patola, okra, upo, tomato, onion, onion leeks, garlic, ginger, lettuce, alugbati, celery, radish, kangkong, camote tops, spinach, tamarind, malunggay, lemongrass, pandan, carrot, habichuelas, bok choy, fern leaves, mustard, taro, mung bean, ubi, cucumber, cabbage, broccoli, Baguio beans, sweet potato, potato, sweet pepper, cassava, chili pepper, pechay, chayote, purple yam, bamboo shoot, cadios, radish, pepper, mushroom, avocado, tobacco, strawberry, guyabano, santol, banana, papaya, lemon, jackfruit, watermelon, rambutan, lanzones, guyabano, jackfruit, pineapple, mango, cotton, cashew, aratilis, durian, sugarcane, sineguelas, dragon fruit, mangosteen, coconut, honeydew, coffee, pili, abaca, cacao, atis, lime, dalandan, pomelo, rubber, and calamansi
Farm Operations:
  • Land cultivation and preparation
  • Dry seeding
  • Transplanting
  • Broadcasting
  • Irrigation, drip irrigation or self-watering containers, and watering management
  • Pruning of fruit trees and other perennial crops
  • Cutting of some branches and trimming plants
  • Removal of weeds
  • Grass cutting
  • Spraying of herbicides and pesticides
  • Applying of fertilizers, molluscicide, fungicides
  • Mulching and cover cropping
  • Field and crop monitoring
  • Delivery of fresh produce
  • Copra making and drying
  • Drying, storing and milling of rice and corn
  • Cultivation of sugarcane
  • Ploughing
  • Harrowing
  • Furrowing
  • Rotavating
  • Urban vegetable gardening
  • Cleaning of garden and farms
  • Pest and diseases monitoring and management
  • Maintaining of equipment, regular upkeep, repair, and preparation of farm machineries and tools
  • Maintenance of farm infrastructure such as irrigation channels and fences
  • Monitoring and regulating conditions inside greenhouses for plant growth
  • Gathering mature crops at peak ripeness
  • Sorting, cleaning, and packaging harvested produce
The agricultural technicians, farmers, and farm enthusiasts may continue to browse some tips and additional knowledge on potential crop production, early warning for pest and disease infestations and water management strategies for specific areas by visiting the website of Department of Agriculture in their respective regions. For daily farm weather and climate conditions, you may visit PAGASA website (https://pagasa.dost.gov.ph/
The weather systems that will likely affect the country during the month of August are the southwest monsoon, easterlies, LPAs, localized thunderstorms, and two (2) or (3) three tropical cyclones (TC) may enter or develop inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
  • Generally, near normal rainfall conditions are expected in most parts of the country (Figure 4).
  • Generally, near to warmer than average surface air temperatures will be experienced in most parts of the country during the forecast period except for some stations in Southern Luzon and Visayas where slightly below to below average temperatures are likely. Luzon will have extreme temperature range of 13.6 – 27.7 ºC for upland farms while 12.9 – 37.5 ºC for other farms in Luzon; the lowland farms in Visayas will have 19.7 – 37.1 ºC; while the upland farms in Mindanao will have 12.0 – 33.6 ºC and 20.3 – 36.9 ºC for lowland farms.
  • Monthly Climate Assessment and Outlook / La Niña Alert (Issued on 07 August 2024). ENSO-neutral conditions are present in the tropical Pacific and may continue until the July-August-September (JAS) 2024 season. Meanwhile, the majority of forecasts from global climate models, combined with expert judgments, suggest a 70% probability of La Niña emerging in the August-September-October (ASO) 2024 season. This has warranted the upgrading of the DOST–PAGASA ENSO Alert and Warning System to a La Niña Alert, as indicated in the press release dated 12 July 2024. La Niña remains the most likely category through January-February-March (JFM) 2025season.
  • PAGASA will continue to closely monitor the developing La Niña. All government agencies concerned and the general public are encouraged to stay updated and use the information for guidance in taking precautionary measures to mitigate the adverse impacts of these phenomena.
  • Prepare for wetter conditions. Enhance drainage to prevent waterlogging and monitor for pest and disease outbreaks. Use resistant crop varieties and consider staggered planting to avoid peak wet periods. Increased humidity can influence pest and disease prevalence. Conduct of regular monitoring of farm fields and timely interventions are crucial.
PAGASA will continue to closely monitor the climate conditions that may affect the country and updates shall be issued as appropriate. For further information, please contact the Climatology and Agrometeorology Division (CAD) at telephone number 8284-0800, local 4915.

For the simplified version, please download at: https://bit.ly/SimplifiedMPARO

Sources:
https://monitoring-dashboard.ndrrmc.gov.ph/exports/infographics/combined-effects-of-southwest-monsoon-and-tcs-butchoy-and-carina-2024/6744/08-1723102036
Crop Calendar from Department of Agriculture

Issued:August 2024
Farm Weather Services Section (FWSS))
Climatology and Agrometeorology Division (CAD)
Images courtesy of PAGASA CAD-CLIMPS and PAGASA CAD-IAAS
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