January 8, 2007

 

Argentina's 2006/07 wheat harvest nears end

 

 

As of January 4, Argentina's farmers had brought in 96 percent of the 2006/07 wheat crop compared with 82 percent a week ago, the Agriculture Secretariat said in its weekly crop report.

 

At this time last year, 82 percent of the wheat crop had been harvested.

 

The 2006/07 wheat harvest is complete in Cordoba, Entre Rios, La Pampa and Santa Fe Provinces, according to the Secretariat. However, 8 percent of the crop planted in Buenos Aires Province remains to be harvested, compared with 31 percent remaining to be harvested at this time last year. Buenos Aires Province traditionally accounts for more than 55 percent of the country's wheat output.

 

Argentina will produce 13.7 million tonnes of wheat in 2006/07, according to the Agriculture Secretariat.

 

The USDA is expecting 14.2 million tonnes of wheat from the 2006/07 crop. The Buenos Aires Cereals Exchange puts production at 13.8 million tonnes.

 

 

Soy

 

As of January 4, Argentine farmers had seeded 87 percent of the record 16 million hectares expected to be dedicated to soy this year, the Secretariat said.

 

Farmers had planted 91 percent of the crop at the same date last year, the Secretariat said.

 

The USDA estimates that Argentina will produce 42 million tonnes of soy from the 2006/07 crop.

 

 

Corn

 

Farmers had planted 95 percent of the area planned for corn, 1 percentage point behind the planting pace at this time last year, the Secretariat said.

 

Argentina will plant an estimated 3.45 million hectares of corn during the 2006/07 crop cycle, up from 3.18 million in 2005/06, according to the Agriculture Secretariat.

 

The USDA sees Argentina's 2006/07 corn production at 19 million tonnes.