Rain boosts Argentina crops, but might be excessive

Heavy rainfall provided another boost to Argentina's developing crops, although they may be getting too much of a good thing in some areas, the Agricultural Ministry said Friday (Feb 19) in its weekly crop report.

Soy planting is virtually complete, with good to very good conditions in most fields, according to the ministry.

The ministry has not forecast crop size yet, but the Buenos Aires Cereals Exchange pegs 2009-10 soy production at a record 52 million tonnes. That is up sharply from the 32 million tonnes grown last season when a drought hit the crop.

Despite the excellent conditions, there are some worries that continued rainfall throughout the harvest period may lead to increased pest problems.

In the Bragado district of Buenos Aires province, the heavy rainfall could increase the amount of diseases toward the end of the growing period and delay the harvest, affecting the yields of the late soy, the ministry said.

Argentina's corn crop continues to develop well across most of the farm belt, benefiting from the recent showers, the ministry said. Planting is 98% complete and the first fields of early corn are expected to be harvested soon.

Production of commercial corn is expected to total 19 million-21 million tonnes this season, up sharply from last year, according to the ministry.

In the Pergamino district of Buenos Aires province, the crop is mature and "really in very good shape" after receiving sufficient rainfall through the key growing periods. "Yields are going to be a record in the area," the ministry said.