September 17, 2007
Rains boost Argentine wheat, spur corn planting
Moderate rainfall across much of Argentina's agricultural heartland and warmer weather provided a timely boost to the developing wheat crop and created favourable planting conditions for corn and sunseeds, the Agriculture Secretariat said in its weekly crop report Friday (September 14).
The young wheat crop had been struggling due to dry, cold conditions and this week's rains improved conditions in many areas, the secretariat said.
"This week's rains were very scattered, and insufficient in some areas, but, in general, are very beneficial for the crop," the secretariat said of Buenos Aires Province.
Other provinces experienced similar conditions.
Farmers had planted 98 percent of the 2007-08 wheat crop as of September 13, one percentage point behind last year's pace, according to the Secretariat.
The Secretariat forecasts 2007-08 wheat planting of 5.5 million hectares.
On the other hand, corn planting has started in Cordoba, Entre Rios and Santa Fe provinces, with good conditions due to the warm, wet weather.
Argentina will plant 3.9 million hectares with corn in 2007-08, up over 9 percent from the 3.57 hectares planted with corn in 2006-07, according to the secretariat.
As of September 13, farmers had planted 10 percent of the 2.6-2.7 million hectares seen going to sunseeds this season, according to the secretariat.
Planting is delayed by 5 percentage points from the same date a year ago due to dry weather earlier in the planting season, but this week's rains improved conditions, according to the secretariat.
Estimates for Argentina's 2007-08 crop production
in million hectares (HA) or millions tonnes (MT).
|
|
Wheat |
Soy |
Corn |
Sunseed |
|
Agriculture Secretariat |
5.5HA |
n/a |
3.9HA |
2.6-2.7HA |
|
USDA |
14MT |
47MT |
24MT |
4.1MT |
|
BA Cereals Exchange |
5.4HA |
n/a |
3.27HA |
2.6HA |
|
Agropuerto S.A. |
14MT |
45MT |
25.5MT |
4.5MT |
|
AgriPac Consultores |
16MT |
48.2MT |
25MT |
4.6 |
|
AgriPac Consultores |
5.4HA |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
Argentina's historical production estimates
in million tonnes, according to the Agriculture Secretariat
|
|
Wheat |
Soy |
Corn |
Sunseed |
|
2006/07 |
14.60 |
47.60 |
22.00 |
3.62 |
|
2005/06 |
12.60 |
40.50 |
14.50 |
3.80 |
|
2004/05 |
16.00 |
38.30 |
20.50 |
3.70 |
|
2003/04 |
14.60 |
31.60 |
15.00 |
3.10 |
|
2002/03 |
12.30 |
35.00 |
14.70 |
3.40 |
