December 16, 2003

 

 

Argentina's 2003-04 Corn 73% Planted
 

Argentina's farmers have planted 73% of the 2003-2004 corn crop as of 12 December 2003, the Agriculture Secretariat reported on Monday.

 

This figure is up 6% from a week ago but down 13 points compared to last year.

 

Planting has been hampered by a drought in the corn belt and other areas. However, recent rain has aided the condition of the crop.

 

In Buenos Aires province, which is home to more than a third of corn production, the crop is "continuing its normal growth pattern...without any sanitary problems," according to the Secretariat.

 

The Secretariat estimates the size of the 2003-2004 corn area at 2.91 million hectares, compared with 3.084 million hectares the previous year.

 

As of Friday, around 2,133,510 hectares had been planted. The Secretariat's numbers differed a bit from those provided by the Buenos Aires Cereals Exchange, whose estimates include planting as of Saturday.

 

The exchange said planted area stands at 2.2 million hectares, though this does not include corn used for feed.

 

Some 77.2% of this had been planted by Saturday, according to the exchange.

 

Argentina produced 15 million metric tons of corn in 2002-03, according to the Secretariat.

 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has forecast 2003-04 corn production at 13.5 million tons.

 

SOYBEANS
 

Meanwhile, as of Friday farmers had also planted 66% of the 2003-04 crop, according to the Secretariat. This is up 12 percentage points from a week ago but down nine points from a year ago.

 

Soybean area is seen at 13.749 million hectares, compared with 12.6 million the previous year.

 

As of Friday, some 9,089,670 hectares had been planted.

 

These numbers contrast slightly with those provided by the cereals exchange. As of Saturday, farmers had planted 64.6% of the 2003-04 soybean crop, according to the exchange.

 

The exchange sees area at 13.85 million hectares.

 

The Secretariat said recent precipitation has been good for the crop. "Having benefited from last week's rain, the crop shows good stand, development and growth," the Secretariat said.