April 15, 2009
Argentina farmers focus on soy harvest, condition poor
Argentina's crops continue to struggle against dry weather, with farmers focusing on bringing in the early soy, the Agriculture Secretariat said in its weekly crop report Tuesday (April 14).
The soy crop is in poor condition in much of Buenos Aires province, with significant pest problems due to decreased spending on treatments, according to the Secretariat.
Yields are low and quality poor due to earlier drought and the low agrochemical use this season.
Conditions are a little better in Cordoba and Santa Fe province, although recent dry, hot weather is affecting the crop quality.
Argentina's soy crop was battered by drought this season, sharply cutting potential output. Early in the season, forecasts had called for up to 50 million metric tonnes of output, but most analysts are now predicting a crop of less than 40 million tonnes.
Last month, the Secretariat published a report forecasting 2008-09 soy production at 37 million to 39 million tonnes, down sharply from the 46.2 tonnes grown last season.
But later in the day the Secretariat revoked the report, saying it contained errors.
Critics accuse the government of manipulating data and revoking the report due to its very pessimistic assessment of potential crop production.
As of April 9, farmers had harvested 38 percent of the soy crop, up 13 percentage points from the pace last season, according to the Secretariat.
Farmers had harvested 44 percent of the 2008-09 corn crop, up 11 percentage points from this time last year, according to the Secretariat.
The corn harvest has slowed somewhat as farmers concentrate on bringing in the early soy.
In Buenos Aires province, the crop was affected by drought, late frosts and low agrochemical use, which affected yields.
Conditions are better in the important corn-growing province of Cordoba, but yields still vary widely.
The Secretariat is predicting 2008-09 corn production of 12.5 million to 13.8 million tonnes, down sharply from the 20.5 million tonnes grown last season.
The 2008-09 sunflower seed harvest is 98 percent complete, up five percentage points from this point last season. Production is expected to fall sharply to 2.45 million tonnes this season due to the drought.
Estimates for Argentina's 2008-09 crop production in millions of hectares (HA) or millions of tonnes.
|
　 |
Wheat |
Soy |
Corn |
Sunseed |
|
BA Cereals Exchange |
8.7 million tonnes |
39.4 million tonnes |
13.5 million tonnes |
3 million tonnes |
|
Agriculture Secretariat |
8.3 million tonnes |
37-39 million tonnes* |
12.5 to 13.8 million tonnes |
2.45 million tonnes |
|
USDA |
8.4 million tonnes |
39 million tonnes |
13.5 million tonnes |
3 million tonnes |
|
Rosario Exchange |
-- |
41.7 million tonnes |
14 million tonnes |
-- |
|
Granar S.A. |
-- |
37-39 million tonnes |
-- |
-- |
|
AgriPac |
-- |
34 million tonnes |
-- |
-- |
|
Lartirigoyen S.A. |
-- |
36-38 million tonnes |
12 to 13 million tonnes |
2.8 to 3 million tonnes |
Argentina's historical production estimates in millions of tonnes, according to the Agriculture Secretariat:
|
　 |
Wheat |
Soy |
Corn |
Sunseed |
|
Aug 7 |
16 |
46.2 |
20.5 |
4.65 |
|
Jul 6 |
14.6 |
47.5 |
21.8 |
3.5 |
|
Jun 5 |
12.6 |
40.5 |
14.5 |
3.8 |
|
Apr 3 |
14.6 |
31.6 |
15 |
3.1 |
|
Mar 2 |
12.3 |
35 |
14.7 |
3.4 |
