November 20, 2006

 

Argentina wheat harvest ahead of schedule; conditions good

 

 

Argentina's 2006/07 wheat harvest is well ahead of last year's pace with conditions generally good despite early drought, the Agriculture Secretariat said Friday (Nov 17).

 

 

Wheat

 

As of Nov 16, farmers had brought in 17 percent of the 2006/07 wheat crop, compared to 5 percent at this time last year, according to the Secretariat.

 

The harvest was particularly advanced in Santa Fe Province, where 34 percent of the crop has been brought in, compared to just 4 percent at this time last year. Favourable weather conditions are allowing earlier harvest in some areas, the Secretariat said.

 

The Secretariat forecasts 2006/07 wheat production at 13.6 million tonnes, while the US Department of Agriculture forecasts production of 13.25 million tonnes. The Buenos Aires Cereals Exchange puts production at 13.8 million tonnes.

 

 

Soy

 

Farmers have planted 42 percent of the record 15.9 million hectares forecast for soy this year, compared with 46 percent at this time last year, the Secretariat said,

 

The USDA estimates that Argentina will produce 41.3 million tonnes of soy from the 2006/07 crop.

 

 

Corn

 

Farmers had planted 71 percent of the area planned for corn, in line with the seeding pace at this time last year, the Secretariat said.

 

Argentina will plant an estimated 3.4 million hectares of corn during the 2006/07 crop cycle, up 6.8 percent from 3.18 million in 2005/06, according to the Agriculture Secretariat.

 

The USDA forecasts Argentina's 2006/07 corn production at 17.5 million tonnes.