Rains in Argentina's top wheat-growing region last week helped improve crop conditions, the Agriculture Ministry said in its latest weekly report. Argentine farmers have dedicated an estimated 4.24 million hectares to wheat this year, up from last year when a severe drought forced many growers to give up sowing plans.
Rains and warmer temperatures have improved the condition of the crops, the report said in reference to Buenos Aires province, which accounts for about half of the country's wheat output. In the northern district of Pergamino, "wheat is in very good shape although it is still in the early stages of development because it didn't grow much over the winter," the report stated. However, the government said dry conditions are hurting plants in some areas of Buenos Aires province such as Bahia Blanca, in the south.
Argentina is one of the world's biggest suppliers of wheat and the Agriculture Ministry forecasts the 2010/11 harvest at between 10 million and 11.2 million tonnes. While that is below the US Department of Agriculture's estimate of 12 million tonnes, it would mark a dramatic improvement on the 2009/10 drought-hit crop of just 7.5 million tonnes.
Comments
Comments are closed.