Argentina: Spring Planting Stalled but Winter Wheat Benefits from Rains

Several heavy rains prior to and during early planting of spring and summer crops have slowed progress in the regions of Buenos Aires, La Pampa, Santa Fe and Entre Rios. Saturated soils have drained very slowly, allowing only limited planting to proceed between rain events in most areas (figure 1). Most early planting activity has been concentrated in northern Argentina where sunflowers and corn have been rapidly planted. Argentina plants sunflowers, corn and soybeans from September to December.

Area planted for the 2017/18 season Argentine sunflower crop is expected to reach 1.8 million hectares (mha) for a total production of 3.8 million metric tons (mmt) with over 75 percent sown. Yield is forecast at 2.11 metric tons per hectare (mt/ha). Last year Argentina produced 3.4 mmt (12 percent less) on 1.72 mha (5 percent less) averaging 1.98 mt/ha (almost 7 percent less). Timely rains will encourage farmers to increase planted area. Early sowing may also result in an early harvest, fulfilling both domestic and export demand.

Corn is expected to be sown on 5.2 mha for a forecast output of 42 mmt with almost 45 percent planted as of November 8, 2017. Corn yield is forecast at 8.08 mt/ha. Last year, Argentina produced 41 mmt (2 percent less) from 4.9 mha (6 percent less) with yield at 8.37 mt/ha (3 percent more). How much corn will be early-planted versus late-planted will be determined by the end of November as rains are anticipated to become more scattered and widespread.

Wheat production for 2017/18 is forecast at 17.5 mmt from an estimated area of 5.6 mha, with yield forecast at 3.13 mt/ha. Last year, Argentine farmers harvested 17.0 mmt (3 percent less) from 5.2 mha (almost 8 percent less) with average yields of 3.27 mt/ha (4 percent more). Overall wheat yield will depend partly on the rapid drainage of excess moisture, but early planted wheat should flourish due to the timing of autumn rains (figure 2).

Soybean area is estimated at 19.1 mha, with yield forecast at 2.98 mt/ha and production forecast at 57 mmt. Just over 14 percent of the crop seeded in northern and central fields as of end of October. Last year output was 57.8 mmt (1 percent more) on an area of 18.4 mha (4 percent less) yielding about 3.15 mt/ha (5 percent more). (For more information please contact Denise.Mcwilliams@fas.usda.gov.)

Current USDA area and production estimates for grains and other agricultural commodities are available on IPAD's Agricultural Production page or at PSD Online.

Visit Crop Explorer http://www.pecad.fas.usda.gov/cropexplorer/