Argentina crops soak up timely rain; conditions good

More rainfall over the past week gave another boost to Argentina's soy and corn crops, with conditions very good across much of the farm belt, the Agriculture Ministry said in its weekly crop report Friday (Feb 5).

In the Pergamino district of Buenos Aires province, the weather favours the soy crop development, with very good growth rates, the Ministry said.

According to the Buenos Aires Cereals Exchange, Argentina's 2009-10 soy production is expected to reach a record 52 million tonnes, up sharply from the 32 million tonnes grown last season when drought battered the crop.

As of February 4, 99% of the soy crop had been planted, according to the Ministry.

With 97% of planting done, the corn crop is also developing well. The increased rainfall spurred growth.

In the important corn growing district of Marcos Juarez in Cordoba province, the corn crop "is in very good shape, with expectations for a large crop barring weather problems," the ministry said.

"December's showers were very beneficial for the crop, which showed an excellent resistance to the high temperatures at the end of January," the ministry said.

The Buenos Aires exchange forecasts production of 18.4 million tonnes.