January 12, 2009

 

Argentina's 2008-09 soy crop continues to struggle against drought, with significant rainfall needed badly to relieve the stressed crop, the Agriculture Secretariat said in its weekly crop report Friday (January 9).

 

In the Bolivar district of Buenos Aires province "if rains aren't seen soon, soy yields will be affected," the Secretariat said.

 

As of January 8, farmers had planted 86 percent of the area seen going to soy, down from 94 percent at this point last year.

 

Area is seen at a record 17.8 million hectares this season.

 

The 2008-09 corn crop is in poor shape due to the drought, except in most of Cordoba province. Recent showers in Cordoba helped crop conditions, the Secretariat said.

 

As of Thursday, farmers had planted 91 percent of the forecast 3.34 million hectares seen going to corn, down from 93 percent at this point last season, according to the Secretariat.

 

Farmers have just about wrapped up planting of the 2.2 million hectares expected to be sown with sunflower seeds this season.

 

Conditions are poor in much of the crop due to the dry weather, the Secretariat said.

 

Farmers had harvested 99 percent of the 2007-08 wheat crop as of January 8, two percentage points ahead of the harvest pace last season.

 

The secretariat is forecasting 2008-09 production of 9 million tonnes, down sharply from the 16 million tonnes grown last season.