SAN MIGUEL DEL MONTE , Argentina ( CNN ) -- In a small farming town 105 kilometers ( 65 miles ) southwest of Buenos Aires , farmers are struggling to nourish their crops and feed their animals . The worst drought in half a century has turned Argentina 's once-fertile soil to dust and pushed the country into a state of emergency . Argentine farmers profited in years past from selling beef to the world , but some now struggle to feed their cattle . Cow carcasses litter the prairie fields and sun-scorched soy plants wither under the South American summer sun . Farmers are concerned about their livelihoods . `` I 'm losing money . I ca n't afford to lose money all the time , '' said Juan Cahen D'Anvers , whose family has been farming in Argentina since the late 1700s . He owns 700 hectares ( 1,730 acres ) in San Miguel del Monte , where he grows sunflowers and barley . He says this year is one of the hardest he 's ever had . Watch farmer explain how hard he 's been hit » . `` Production is going to go down a minimum of 50 percent , maybe more . I do n't know yet , '' he said . Argentina is one of the world 's breadbaskets , providing commodities such as soy , wheat , corn and beef to countries around the globe . In recent years , record-high prices for these products reaped millions of dollars for Argentine farmers , but since the global economic crisis hit , demand and profits have dropped . Now the drought is making matters even worse . Cesar Gioia , another San Miguel del Monte farmer , said time is growing short . `` If it does n't rain in the next 10 days , I will have to wipe out my entire corn crop , 90 hectares ( 220 acres ) , '' he said . `` The best I can do with it is feed it to my cows . '' Facing pressure from farmers , Argentina President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner announced emergency measures this week that will exempt the worst-hit farmers from paying most taxes for one year . `` This is a big boost of patriotism , and a sign of support from all Argentines , '' Kirchner said on January 26 . `` All other sectors of the economy will continue to contribute , so we can help the farmers who have been affected by this drought . '' Kirchner has had a contentious relationship with farmers , who staged noisy protests and strikes last year over an increase in export taxes . Those taxes eventually were reduced , but farming leaders still contend that the government is out of touch with their needs . They say the measures announced this week fall short , and are demanding a cohesive , long-term plan for dealing with emergencies such as the current drought . If not , they say , they may strike again . Watch how farmers reacted to Kirchner 's move » . `` Sure , this plan is approved now , and it helps , but we need money to feed cows , to go back to planting crops , because this drought is impacting life in every sector of society , '' said Eduardo Buzzi of the Argentine Agrarian Federation . As she yanks dead soy plant vines from a dusty field in San Miguel del Monte , Lorena del Rios of the Argentina Rural Society says she expects the drought to affect both Argentine and overseas consumers , especially when it comes to Argentina 's world-famous beef . `` We will see less meat available , which means rising prices , '' she said . `` There is even the possibility that in a few years Argentina will have to import beef , which is almost unthinkable for people here . ''
Worst drought in 50 years is hitting Argentina . Score: 7 Cow carcasses litter the landscape while plants wither in the summer sun .