August 27, 2007
Argentina wraps up 2006/07 corn harvest
Argentina finished harvesting its 2006/07 corn crop this week, the Agriculture Secretariat said in its weekly crop report Friday (Aug 24).
The country produced a record 22 million tonnes last season due to heavy rainfall, which boosted yields.
Argentina will plant 3.9 million hectares with corn in 2007/08, up over 9 percent from the 3.57 million hectares planted with corn in 2006/07, according to the Agriculture Secretariat.
Wheat
Farmers have planted 96 percent of the 2007/08 wheat crop as of Aug 23, two percentage points behind last year's pace, according to the Secretariat.
The Secretariat forecasts 2007/08 wheat planting of 5.5 million hectares.
Crop conditions are generally favourable, although dryness in the centre and north of La Pampa and Cordoba provinces may cut yields in those areas, according to the Secretariat.
Sunflower seed
Dryness is also delaying sunflower seed planting, especially in the northern province of Chaco, the Secretariat said. About 25 percent of the forecast area in the province has been planted.
If dry conditions continue, the area forecast may be reduced, the Secretariat said.
Sunflower seed planting in 2007/08 is seen at 2.6 million to 2.7 million hectares, compared with the 2.447 million hectares planted last season, according to the Secretariat.
Significant increases in sunflower seed planting in Entre Rios, Santa Fe and Cordoba provinces will spur the 6-10 percent gains in area this season compared with 2006/07, the Secretariat said earlier this month.
Estimates for Argentina's 2007/08 crop production in millions of hectares (HA) or millions of tonnes (MT)
|
|
Wheat |
Soy |
Corn |
Sunseed |
|
Agriculture Secretariat |
5.55HA |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
USDA |
14MT |
47MT |
24MT |
4.1MT |
|
BA Cereals Exchange |
5.4HA |
n/a |
3.4-3.6HA |
2.6HA |
|
Agropuerto SA |
14MT |
45MT |
25.5MT |
4.5MT |
|
AgriPac Consultores |
16MT |
48.2MT |
25MT |
4.6MT |
|
Panagricola SA |
5.4HA |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
Argentina's historical production estimates in millions of tonnes, according to the Agriculture Secretariat:
|
Wheat |
Soy |
Corn |
Sunseed | |
|
2006/07 |
14.6 |
47.6 |
22 |
3.62 |
|
2005/06 |
12.6 |
40.5 |
14.5 |
3.8 |
|
2004/05 |
16 |
38.3 |
20.5 |
3.7 |
|
2003/04 |
14.6 |
31.6 |
15 |
3.1 |
|
2002/03 |
12.3 |
35 |
14.7 |
3.4 |
