August 21, 2006

Argentina's 2006/07 wheat planting 97.7 percent complete

Argentine farmers completed 97.7 percent of 2006/07 wheat planting by Friday (Aug 18), the Buenos Aires Cereals Exchange reported.

The exchange forecasts that 5.43 million hectares will be planted with wheat this year. Farmers have planted 5.21 million hectares so far.

However, unless there are rains in the next few days, there will be an additional decrease in total planting area estimates, the exchange said.

Earlier this month the exchange had forecast planted area of 5.45 million hectares but lowered its estimate based on dry weather that prevented planting.

Last year wheat area totalled 5.2 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 on a bigger planted area.

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.