Heat starts to test Argentina crops 

Hot, dry weather across Argentina's farm belt over the past week is starting to stress the developing soy and corn seed crops, but conditions are generally very good, according to the Agriculture Ministry.

With planting all but complete, Argentina is on track to grow a record soy crop. The Buenos Aires Cereals Exchange forecasts production of 51 million tonnes, up sharply from the 32 million tonnes grown last season and well over the previous record of 48.8 million tonnes grown in 2006-07.

In the Veinticinco de Mayo district of Buenos Aires Province, showers are needed over the short term to avoid stress from dryness, but there are no signs of that stress so far, the Ministry said.

The corn crop is also developing well, with high yields expected.

In the Pergamino district of Buenos Aires province the corn is in splendid shape, the Ministry said. As of Thursday, 96% of the crop had been seeded, according to the Ministry.

The Buenos Aires Exchange upped its forecast for commercial corn output by 400,000 tonnes to 18.4 million tonnes.