January 26, 2010

Argentine soy farmers turn to spraying to stop insects, fungus

Soy farmers in Argentina are doing more aerial spraying of crops in the country's main growing area in a bid to control increased fungus, diseases and insects amid hot, humid conditions, the Buenos Aires Cereals Exchange said.

"More planes are being used than in other years because if farmers use tractors and trucks to spray they may ruin the soil, which is very humid, and this would affect crops," Maximiliano Zavala, an agronomist at the exchange, said.

Argentina is the world's third-largest producer of the oilseed and is headed for a record harvest of 53 million tonnes this year, boosted by above-average rains after two years of drought. The previous record was 48.8 million tonnes in 2007. Harvesting is expected to start in February.

"The combination of humidity and hot weather has increased the amount of funguses, insects and weeds that are appearing and must be controlled," said Zavala. "The situation is especially bad in northern Buenos Aires province and southern Santa Fe province, the core soy growing areas."

The national weather institute earlier reported that high temperatures can be expected in the region until at least January 28. Temperatures may reach as much as 40 degrees Celsius, the institute said.

According to the cereals exchange, about 33% of the country's total crop is located in the area.

Yields in the region may be pared by as much as 15% by a fungus disease known as Frogeye Leaf Spot, Tomas Parenti, an agronomist at the Rosario Cereals Exchange, said on December 21.