April 11, 2006

 

Argentina's 2005/06 soybean crop 27 percent planted

 

 

Argentine farmers had harvested 27 percent of the 2005/06 soybean crop, the Buenos Aires Cereals Exchange reported Monday (Apr 10).

 

That puts the collection pace down 1.1 percentage points from a year ago.

 

"Rain obstructed collection of the harvest, which advanced just 5.9 points from a week ago," the Exchange said.

 

As of Saturday farmers had collected 4.191 hectares, putting production so far at 11.125 million tonnes.

 

The average yield last week was 2.65 tonnes/hectare, little changed from a week ago but down from 3.05 tonnes/hectare a year ago, when nearly ideal weather lifted yields.

 

Planted area totals 15.62 million hectares, up from 14.67 million hectares a year earlier.

 

Last year farmers produced a record 38.85 million tonnes of soy, according to the Exchange.

 

The Exchange has forecast 2005/06 output at 40.4 million tonnes while the US Department of Agriculture sees Argentina's soybean production at 40.5 million tonnes.

 

 

Corn

 

Farmers had also harvested 32.5 percent of the 2005/06 corn crop by Saturday, putting the collection pace up 2.5 percentage points from a week ago but down about 10 points from a year earlier.

 

As of Saturday farmers had harvested 716,402 hectares, putting production so far at 4.467 million tonnes.

 

The average yield last week was 6.24 tonnes/hectare, which is up from 6.1 tonnes/hectare a week ago but down 21.5 percent from 7.95 tonnes/hectare a year ago. A lengthy drought during planting season hurt yields.

 

The USDA has forecast Argentina's 2005/06 corn output at 14 million tonnes while the Exchange puts it at similar amount, way down from about 19.62 million tonnes a year earlier.

 

Production estimates are down because farmers planted less corn and dry weather damaged what was planted. Planted area totals 2.26 million hectares, down from 2.63 million hectares a year ago.

 

The 2005/06 area, including corn grown for use as animal feed, totals around 2.85 million hectares.

 

Argentines plant corn September through January and harvest it February through July.