January 17, 2006

 

Argentina's 2005/06 wheat crop 90 percent harvested

 

 

Argentina's farmers had harvested 90 percent of the 2005/06 wheat crop by Saturday, the Buenos Aires Cereals Exchange reported Monday.

 

That puts the collection pace up from about 79 percent a week ago but down nine percentage points from a year ago.

 

"The delay in the maturation of crops planted near the coast (in Buenos Aires Province) and the absence of a dry environment...are the main causes of the slow progress," the exchange said.

 

The exchange has forecast wheat production in 2005/06 at 11.6 million tonnes.

 

The average yield last week was 2.41 tonnes/hectare, the exchange said.

 

The USDA, which has forecast the average yield for Argentine wheat this season at 2.39 tonnes/hectare, sees final output totalling 12.1 million tonnes.

 

Collectable area totals 4.848 million hectares, down from 6.09 million hectares a year ago.

 

By Saturday farmers had harvested 4,368,500 hectares, putting production so far at 10.529 million tonnes.

 

If the Exchange's forecast holds, it would put output down from a record 16.345 million tonnes last season. Dry weather and low wheat prices led farmers to plant less wheat this season.

 

Argentines plant wheat May through August and harvest it October through January.