Rain Relief in Argentina Corn, Wheat Too Dry

October 10, 2011

Argentina was hit with heavy rain in the farm belt that restored field moisture for corn planting. Eastern Cordoba, southern Santa Fe and northwest Buenos Aires received at least 3-5 inches in the heart of the Argentina corn belt.

Flooding occurred further north in Santa Fe and Corrientes with 6-8 inches of rain.  Dry fields have been fully replenished in many areas of the grain belt  leading to rapid advancement in corn planting.  Less than 20% of the crop had been sown earlier this month.  Soybean seeding will get into full swing in November.

Marcos Juarez Cordoba drought was cured by very heavy rainfall:  

Bigger Corn Area Predicted

The USDA anticipates a 6% hike in Argentina corn plantings this season, but not much change in the soybean area.  Note a vast difference between crop areas oi the chart below.    The soybean area is 4-5  times bigger than corn, near 18 million hectares against 3.6 million hectares in corn.  

In years of drought, there is less corn harvested for grain.   The damaged corn is used for silage:

Drought in Argentina Wheat Again

Persistent low rainfall in  winter wheat, heavily produced in southern Buenos Aires, has been very damaging.  The Tres Arroyos key wheat area missed heavy rain last week.   Production of winter wheat may be off 10% from last year, falling to 13.5 million metric tons.   That would be 3 out of 4 years of low wheat production, shrinking Argentina's importance as a key exporter.  Average wheat production 2004-07 was 16.4 million metric tons.