January 19, 2005

Argentina's corn, soybean crops in good shape

Argentina's 2004-05 corn and soybean crops are in good shape and evolving well, a national weather expert said Tuesday, citing favorable temperatures and rainfall.

Local farmers have seen good climatic conditions in recent months, said Estella Carballo, a senior meteorologist at the National Institute of Climate and Water.

"In general terms we can say that we had a big wheat harvest," Carballo said. "We've already passed 16 million tons of wheat. And we're also going to have a very good corn harvest. First-crop soybeans are doing well too."

In Argentina's main corn production region, the January rainfall has seen good crop growth, Carballo said.

Summer temperatures will rise next week, but this is unlikely to have a very negative impact on crops, she added. Good weather in recent months have helped boost wheat yields, with similar benefits expected to corn soybean crops.

Farmers have finished collecting 99% the 2004-05 wheat harvest, according to the Agriculture Secretariat. And they are almost done planting the corn and soybeans crops. Farmers will begin harvesting the two crops in February and March, respectively.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has forecast Argentina's 2004-05 corn production at 17 million tons, up from 12.75 a year earlier. The USDA sees 2004-05 soybean output at 39 million tons.