Despite recent rains in some of Argentina's driest areas, more water is needed in much of the main farming region to ensure good soyabean and corn yields, the Agriculture Secretariat said late Thursday.
Farmers have planted 89 percent of the 15.2 million hectares forecast for 2005/06 soyabeans, gaining 6 percentage points from a week earlier but lagging last year's planting pace by 4 points, the government said in a weekly crop report.
In Cordoba, the top soya-producing province, rain is needed in southern and east-central areas whereas the crop is developing well in the north-east.
In the Laboulaye district of southern Cordoba, "the shortage of rain is beginning to be felt in earlier-seeded soya and the damage could be irreversible," the government said.
More precipitation is also badly needed in southern Santa Fe, the No 2 soya grower, and much of No 3 producer Buenos Aires province.
The US Department of Agriculture forecasts Argentina's 2005/06 soya output at a record 40.5 million tonnes, while the government unofficially forecasts output of between 40 million and 41 million tonnes.
Meanwhile, by Thursday, corn farmers had seeded 91 percent of the 3.07 million hectares earmarked for the 2005/06 crop, rising 4 percentage points from last week but lagging last year's planting rhythm by 3 points.
As corn enters the critical pollination stage, it is crucial that rains fall in much of the top growing provinces of Cordoba, Buenos Aires and Santa Fe.
In No 2 producer Buenos Aires, "rains are needed in the short term to replenish soil moisture reserves and avoid possible reductions in future yields."
The USDA foresees Argentine corn output of 17.3 million tonnes, while the government unofficially forecasts 2005/06 corn production at about 16 million tonnes, down from a record 19.5 million tonnes last season.
Finally, sunflower seed farmers have seeded 99 percent of the 2.26 million hectares forecast, rising 2 percentage points from a week earlier and matching last year's pace.
The sunseed harvest has begun in parts of Santa Fe, Chaco and Santiago del Estero provinces. Officials preliminarily put 2005/06 sunseed output at between 3.9 million and 4.0 million tonnes, up from 3.66 million tonnes last season.
Wheat farmers by Thursday had harvested 71 percent of the 5.04 million hectares seeded with the 2005/06 crop, jumping 13 percentage points from a week earlier but still lagging last year's gathering pace by 10 points.
In Buenos Aires province, where about 60 percent of all Argentina's wheat is produced, yields so far average 2.3 tonnes per hectare, although yields dip to as low as 0.9 tonnes per hectare in some south-western areas. Meanwhile, in southern Cordoba, the No 2 wheat producer, yields are 2.5 tonnes per hectare on average, surpassing initial forecasts.
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