April 23, 2007
Argentina soy harvest slows on continued rainfall
Continued rainfall is delaying Argentina's 2006/07 soybean harvest and leading to some deterioration in crop quality and yields, the Agriculture Secretariat said in its weekly crop report Friday (Apr 20).
The harvest pace is well behind last year as exceptionally high rainfall recently has prevented field work, with soil-moisture levels still too high to support harvest machinery in many areas, the Secretariat said.
Farmers are focusing on soy harvesting as the early soy fields are past the optimal maturity state and are starting to suffer losses, which will cut into yields and quality.
Meanwhile, the corn harvest continues to progress slowly as farmers scramble to bring in the early soy.
Soy
Farmers harvested 37 percent of the 2006/07 soy crop as of April 19, compared with 52 percent at the same point a year ago, according to the Secretariat.
The Secretariat and the USDA see a record 45.5 million tonnes of soybeans coming from the 2006/07 crop.
Corn
Argentina's farmers have harvested 31 percent of the 2006/07 corn crop, compared with 35 percent at the same date a year ago.
The Secretariat forecasts 22 million tonnes of corn coming from this year's crop, while the USDA pegs output at 22 million tonnes.
Sunseed
Farmers have collected 98 percent of the sunseed crop, up from 97 percent the same date a year ago.
The Secretariat and the USDA sees 2006/07 sunseed production of 3.5 million tonnes.
Estimates for Argentina's 2006/07 crop production in millions of tonnes:
Wheat Soy Corn Sunseed
Agriculture Secreatriat 14 45.5 22 3.5
USDA 14.2 45.5 22 3.5
B.A. Cereals Exchange 13.8 45.5 22.5 3.45
Argentina's historical production estimates in millions of tonnes, according to the Agriculture Secretariat:
Wheat Soy Corn Sunseed
2005/06 12.6 40.5 14.5 3.8
2004/05 16 38.3 20.5 3.7
2003/04 14.6 31.6 15 3.1
2002/03 12.3 35 14.7 3.4
2001/02 15.3 30 15.4 3.8
