December 28, 2004

 

 

Argentina's 2004-05 Soy Crop 90% Planted As Of Monday

 

Argentine farmers had planted 90% of the 2004 - 05 soybean crop as of Monday, according to the latest data from the Buenos Aires Cereals Exchange.

 

The exchange did not provide data to compare the pace of planting with the previous year.

 

Last year farmers planted 14.5 million hectares and harvested 32.2 million metric tons of soy, according to the exchange.

 

The exchange sees the 2004-05 area at 14.7 million hectares. So far some 13,233,150 hectares have been planted.

 

Neither the exchange nor the Agriculture Secretariat has formally forecast 2004-05 soybean production. The US Department of Agriculture sees Argentina's 2004-05 soy output at 39 million tons.

 

CORN

 

Farmers had also planted 96.5% of the 2004-05 commercial corn crop by Monday.

 

Sufficient rain helped planting, the exchange said, adding that this should ensure beneficial crop development and "high yields."

 

The exchange sees the planted area of exportable corn at 2.5 million hectares. Last year area totaled 2.28 million hectares. As of Monday, farmers had planted 2,412,000 hectares.

 

The exchange said that if the beneficial planting conditions continue through January, production of commercial corn could reach 16.4 million tons, with yields reaching or surpassing the 6.7 tons/hectare of the 2002-03 harvest.

 

The USDA has forecast 2004-05 output at 15.5 million tons. Argentina produced 13.1 million tons of corn in 2003-04, according to the exchange.

 

SUNSEED

 

Farmers have finished planting the 2004-05 sunseed crop. The exchange said planted area for 20004-05 sunseed totals 1.92 million hectares, up from 1.8 million a year ago.

 

In 2003-04, Argentina produced 3.24 million tons of sunseed, according to the exchange.

 

The USDA has forecast 2004-05 sunseed production at 3.4 million tons.