Argentina Heavy Rain Will Boost Corn Plantings

September 22, 2011

Welcome heavy rainfall arrived in the Argentina grain belt September 17, 1 - 2.5 inches,  will promote corn planting in key growing areas Buenos Aires  and Cordoba.   Santa Fe missed heavy rain.   Corn planting usually begins in mid September continuing through October.

Farmers are inspired to increase corn plantings due to the US production shortfall and higher prices.  Some analysts predict corn area may expand by 20% over last season,   when Argentina produced 22 million metric tons of corn.   The new corn harvest is projected to be 27.5 million metric tons (USDA estimate).   That would allow for 19.5 million tonns of exports in 2011-12, up 34% from a year ago. 

Winter conditions were particularly dry, especially August,  when practically no rainfall occurred in Cordoba and southern Santa Fe.   

Despite receiving over one inch of rainfall last week,  Junin in northern  Buenos Aires needs more to  replenish soil profiles.  It is still enough rain to proceed with corn planting.  

Tandil in central Buenos Aires was wetter:

Marcos Juarez in Cordoba received only one-half inch of rain and needs more for planting to move ahead: