June 26, 2006

 

Argentina's 2006/07 wheat crop 42 percent planted

 

 

Farmers in Argentina had planted 42 percent of the 2006/07 wheat crop by Thursday (Jun 22), the Agriculture Secretariat reported Friday, revealing for the first time this season its estimates for planted area.

 

The Secretariat has forecast planted area at 5.598 million hectares, up from 5.16 million hectares a year earlier.

 

According to the Buenos Aires Cereals Exchange, which has been reporting planting data from the beginning of the season, farmers had planted 25 percent of the 2006/07 wheat crop by Jun 16.

 

"Higher moisture levels last week led to a big advance in planting in centre-west Santa Fe and eastern Cordoba, where long-cycle planting is almost done," the Exchange said almost a week ago.

 

So far farmers have planted 2,365,350 hectares.

 

The Exchange expects planted area to total 5.7 million hectares.

 

In 2005/06 Argentina produced 12 million tonnes of wheat, according to the Exchange. That was down from 16.345 million tonnes a year earlier, when good weather helped lift yields.

 

The US Department of Agriculture has forecast Argentina's 2006/07 wheat crop at 14.3 million tonnes.

 

The Secretariat has not released a formal forecast for 2006/07 wheat production.