November 2, 2004

Argentina's 2004-05 Corn Crop 62% Planted by Friday
 
According to the latest Agriculture Secretariat data, Argentina's farmers had planted 62% of the 2004-05 corn crop as of Friday.
 
This puts the pace of planting up from a year ago, when farmers had planted 52% of the crop.
 
Good weather allowed farmers to make quick progress on the planting of this crop in most corn producing provinces, the exchange said.
 
The Secretariat expects farmers to plant 3.238 million hectares, up from 2.855 million a year ago.
 
As of Friday, farmers had planted 2,020,212 hectares.
 
Meanwhile, the Buenos Aires Cereals Exchange said Monday that farmers had planted 54.1% of the crop as of Saturday, compared with 50% a year ago at this time.
 
Argentina produced 13.1 million metric tons of corn in 2003-04, according to the exchange. The Secretariat has estimated output during this period at 13 million tons.
 
The US Department of Agriculture has forecast 2004-05 Argentine output at 15.5 million tons.