March 17, 2006

Argentina sees 2005/06 soy harvest at 39.5 million tonnes

Argentine farmers will harvest 39.5 million tonnes of 2005/06 soybeans, the Agriculture Secretariat said Thursday (March 16) in its monthly crops report.

The Secretariat kept its estimate for the planted area of soybeans at 15.2 million hectares. This puts area up 5.6 percent from 14.4 million a year ago.

Area is seen up in part because dry weather prevented many farmers from sowing corn or wheat and those fields were planted with soybeans.

In 2004/05 Argentina produced a record 38.3 million tonnes of soy, according to the Secretariat.

The US Department of Agriculture has forecast Argentina's 2005/06 soybean output at 40.5 million tonnes.

Corn

Meanwhile, the Secretariat held its forecast for 2005/06 corn production at 13.8 million tonnes.

The Secretariat estimated the planted area of 2005/06 corn to 3.05 million hectares, unchanged from a month earlier. If the forecast holds, it would put area down 10.3 percent on the year. Area and output are down mainly because of poor weather during the planting season.

Argentina produced a record 20 million tonnes during 2004/05 corn harvest, according to the Secretariat. Production rose because area and yields were up. Excellent weather and better use of agri-chemicals and seed varieties boosted yields to record levels.