April 13, 2004

Argentina's 2003-04 Corn 40.7% Collected
 
Farmers in Argentina had collected 40.7% of the 2003-04 corn harvest by Saturday, the Buenos Aires Cereals Exchange reported.
 
By this time last year, farmers had harvested 50% the crop.
 
So far, farmers have collected 898,065 hectares, putting production at 6,110,611 metric tons.
 
Collectible area stands at 2.207 million hectares, and 22,500 hectares have been lost because of damage caused by poor climatic conditions.
 
The average yield last week was 6.8 tons/hectare, down from 7.25 tons a year ago at this time.
 
Based on the average yield so far, the exchange has estimated total production of 12.8 million tons. This would be a decline of 18.6%, or almost 3 million tons, from the previous year, according to exchange data.
 
The USDA sees 2003-04 corn production at 12.5 million tons.
 
SUNSEED
 
Finally, farmers had harvested 90% of the 2003-04 sunseed crop by Saturday, compared to 83% collected one year ago.
 
Planted area totals 1.95 million hectares, though only 1.937 million hectares will actually be harvested, the exchange said, citing crop damage.
 
The average yield so far this year is 1.84 tons/hectare, compared with 1.69 tons a year ago.
 
"Greater yields in northern provinces, in central Santa Fe and in Entre Rios, are pushing results up beyond expectations," the exchange said.
 
Farmers used better hybrid seeds this season than a year ago. Moreover, this year's crop has had almost no problems related to plagues or diseases, according to the exchange. Both of these factors help to explain why yields are up from a year ago.
 
Production will total 3.47 million tons, compared to 3.6 million tons last year, the exchange estimated.
 
The USDA has estimated 2003-04 sunseed output at 3.2 million tons.