August 23, 2010
Growing corn in Spain gets less popular
Farmers in Spain have planted 6.5% less land to corn this spring due to low prices.
The corn crop in Spain, a major grains importer, is forecast to fall by 8%, the Agriculture Ministry said, although it confirmed that the wheat crop had recovered substantially from 2009.
In its latest crop progress report, the ministry did not explain why the corn crop would fall to 3.2 million tonnes.
Work on the corn harvest normally begins in some southern regions in late August but does not gather pace in the northern grain belt until October.
Many northern farmers leave corn uncut until the New Year so that it dries out naturally and they can avoid paying commercial driers.
Corn is the ingredient of choice for animal feed makers, and dealers said it is back in favour because it is no longer much more expensive than wheat, the main alternative.
Even with a bumper harvest, Spain has to import more than 10 million tonnes of grain to meet its needs. It is currently buying corn from Argentina and Brazil, which is cheaper and more abundant than in traditional European suppliers such as France.
Meanwhile, the ministry reported that the recently completed winter cereal harvest, which is mainly wheat and barley, was up 16.9% from 2009.
Work on the corn harvest normally begins in some southern regions in late August but does not gather pace in the northern grain belt until October.
Many northern farmers leave corn uncut until the New Year so that it dries out naturally and they can avoid paying commercial driers.
Corn is the ingredient of choice for animal feed makers, and dealers said it is back in favour because it is no longer much more expensive than wheat, the main alternative.
Even with a bumper harvest, Spain has to import more than 10 million tonnes of grain to meet its needs. It is currently buying corn from Argentina and Brazil, which is cheaper and more abundant than in traditional European suppliers such as France.
Meanwhile, the ministry reported that the recently completed winter cereal harvest, which is mainly wheat and barley, was up 16.9% from 2009.
