February 20, 2006

Argentine farmers finish planting 2005/06 corn crop

Farmers in Argentina have finished planting the 2005/06 corn crop, the Agriculture Secretariat reported Friday.

Area totalled 3.047 million hectares, down from 3.348 million hectares a year earlier.

Low corn prices and high production costs led to a decrease in area.

Argentina's top corn organization, Maizar, sees 2005/06 production at 14 million tonnes, down from 20 million tonnes a year ago.

Meanwhile, the US Department of Agriculture has forecast Argentina's 2005/06 corn production at 15.5 million tonnes and the Secretariat sees it at 13.8 million tonnes.

The Buenos Aires Cereals Exchange has estimated planted area this season at 2.23 million hectares, compared with 2.63 million hectares a year earlier. The Exchange's estimate does not include corn grown strictly for use as animal feed.

Argentine corn is normally planted from September to January and harvested February through July.