April 24, 2009

Argentina's soy harvest is moving along at a brisk pace, although crop conditions are poor across much of the farm belt, according to the Agriculture Secretariat's latest weekly report.

 

As of April 16, 55 percent of the soy crop had been harvested, 13-percent ahead of the harvest pace a year earlier, the secretariat said in the report released late Wednesday (Apr 22).

 

In the Pergamino district of Buenos Aires province, there "are many small, damaged grains, which mean low yields," the secretariat said.

 

There's also a lot of green grain, which is leading to the rejection of shipments at export ports, the secretariat said.

 

The 2008-09 soy crop was battered by drought through much of the growing season, sharply cutting yields.

 

After early expectations for a record crop of 50 million tonnes, most private forecasts now call for final production to be well under 40 million tonnes.

 

As of April 16, farmers had gathered 53 percent of the corn crop, 13-percent ahead of the harvest pace at this time last year.

 

The corn crop was also battered by drought, with low yields and many abandoned fields. The secretariat expects a crop of just 12.5 million to 13.8 million tonnes this season, down from 20.5 million tonnes grown last season.

 

As of April 16, farmers had harvested 99 percent of the sunflower seed crop. Production is estimated at 2.45 million tonnes, down sharply from 4.65 million tonnes last season.