February 11, 2008
Argentina expects lower yields for corn and soy this year
Argentina is expecting dry weather to have a slight impact its soy and corn production this year, while wheat production is likely to improve close to a million tonnes.
Corn
Corn planting is all but complete, with 20.5 million tonnes of corn forecast, according to the exchange.
Yields are expected to be lower due to early dryness, but rainfall over much of the pampas on Thursday and Friday will improve conditions of the late-planted corn, the exchange said.
Soy
Soy planting is also reaching its end, with yields expected to be lower this season due to continued dry weather, the exchange said.
Conditions are mixed, with soy planted earlier in the season faring better, according to the exchange. Soy area is estimated by the exchange at 16.9 million hectares.
Favorable weather conditions and expanded area helped the country achieve record soy output last season, with a 17.5-percent increase in production to 47.5 million tonnes, up from 40.5 million tonnes a year earlier.
2007/08 soy production forecast should be maintained at 47 million tonnes, according to a USDA forecast.
Argentina's historical production estimates in millions of tonnes, according to the Agriculture Secretariat:
|
|
Wheat (production, million tonnes) |
Soy (production, million tonnes) |
Corn (production, million tonnes) |
Sunseed (production, million tonnes) |
|
2007-08 expected production (USDA) |
15.50 |
47.00 |
21.50 |
4.50 |
|
2006 - 07 |
14.60 |
47.50 |
21.80 |
3.50 |
|
2005 - 06 |
12.60 |
40.50 |
14.50 |
3.80 |
|
2004 - 05 |
16.00 |
38.30 |
20.50 |
3.70 |
|
2003 - 04 |
14.60 |
31.60 |
15.00 |
3.10 |
|
2002 - 03 |
12.30 |
35.00 |
14.70 |
3.40 |
