June 18, 2007

 

Dryness, diesel shortage slow Argentina's wheat planting

 

 

Argentina's 2007/08 wheat planting slowed this week due to dry soil conditions and diesel shortages that impeded the use of farm machinery, the Buenos Aires Cereals Exchange said in its weekly crop report Friday (Jun 15).

 

As of Friday, growers had planted 28.2 percent of the 5.4 million hectares forecast for wheat in the 2007/08 season, according to the exchange.

 

High wheat prices are making many farmers consider planting wheat, but the dry weather may prevent them, the exchange said.

 

Soy

 

Farmers have almost completed harvest of the 2006/07 soy crop, bringing in 99.1 percent of the beans, according to the exchange.

 

The exchange forecasts a record 47.1 million tonnes of soy coming from the 2006/07 crop. The US Department of Agriculture sees Argentina producing 45.5 million tonnes of soybeans this year, while the Agricultural Secretariat estimates production of 45.2 million tonnes.

 

Corn

 

Farmers have harvested 87.3 percent of this year's corn crop, with yields averaging 8.2 tonnes per hectare. Total production of 22.5 million tonnes is estimated by the exchange.

 

The Secretariat and the USDA forecast 22 million tonnes of corn coming from this year's crop.