July 24, 2006

Argentina's 2005/06 corn crop 100 percent collected

Argentina's farmers "have practically finished harvesting" the 2005/06 corn crop, the Buenos Aires Cereals Exchange reported Friday (Jul 21).

They had harvested 2,202,400 hectares, putting production at 14.4 million tonnes, as of Friday.

The average yield was unchanged at 6.54 tonnes/hectare.

Yields are down about 16 percent from a year ago because of a lack of soil moisture, the Exchange said.

The US Department of Agriculture has forecast Argentina's 2005/06 corn output at 14 million tonnes while the Exchange puts it at 14.4 million tonnes, way down from about 19.62 million tonnes a year earlier.

Farmers planted less corn this season and a drought damaged what was planted. Planted area totals 2.26 million hectares, down from 2.63 million hectares a year ago.

The 2005/06 area, including corn grown for use as animal feed, totals around 2.85 million hectares.

Argentines plant corn September through January and harvest it February through July.