July 8, 2008

   

Argentina's wheat improves but more rains needed

Argentina's wheat planting continues to struggle due to insufficient rainfall, but recent showers have improved conditions somewhat in many areas, the Agriculture Secretariat said in its weekly crop report Monday (July 7, 2008).

 

Farmers had planted 51 percent of the 4.9 million hectares seen going to wheat this year as of July 3, the Secretariat said. The planting pace is 18 percentage points behind the pace at this date last year.

 

Very dry conditions have slowed planting and prevented some farmers from sowing the grain, the Secretariat said.

  

  

Corn

   

About 94 percent of the 2007-08 corn crop has been harvested, in line with the pace at this time last year, the Secretariat said.

 

Output is forecast at 20.4 million tonnes.

 

  

Soy

    

Farmers had harvested 99 percent of the 2007-08 soy crop as of June 19, with just a few isolated fields remaining in Buenos Aires province.

 

Conditions of the crop are mixed due to early drought and late frost, according to the Secretariat.