South America Calling

Rains Hamper Argentine Soy, Corn Planting; But Moisture Overall Positive

Rain at the start of the week delayed Argentine corn and soybean planting in the provinces of Buenos Aires and La Pampa, according to the Buenos Aires Grains Exchange.

But the showers provide generally favorable soil moisture conditions as the new season progresses.

Farmers had planted 35.6% of the projected Argentine corn crop as of Thursday, up 2.8% percentage points on the week before, said the exchange.

This week marks the end of first-crop corn planting in the nucleus regions at the heart of the grain belt. Farmers will now turn their attention to soybean planting.

Soybean planting was 4% complete as of Thursday, and most of the key growing regions will accelerate planting efforts over the next few weeks.

In contrast to the wet conditions in Buenos Aires and La Pampa, areas farther north in Cordoba and beyond are in need of further rains for planting. However, weather forecasts indicate that abundant showers of between 1 and 3 inches will fall on the province of Santa Fe and south of Cordoba, two important parts of that belt, over the next few days.

The Buenos Aires exchange pegs soybean area at 50.9 million acres, slightly higher than last year, and sees corn area down 16% at 7.4 million acres.

(AG)

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