Argentine wheat to suffer losses in flood-hit areas

Flooding in parts of Argentina's biggest grains province could cause serious yield damage and force farmers to write off some fields altogether, the Agriculture Ministry said on Friday in a weekly crop report. Argentina, which had record rainfall in August, is the world's No. 6 wheat exporter and top supplier to neighbouring Brazil. Officials estimate 2012/13 output at 12.5 million tonnes, which points to exports of about 6 million tonnes.
"The losses to wheat area could be between 10 percent and 20 percent, which could mean total crop loss in some places and partial losses elsewhere with a marked reduction in yields," the report said in reference to four districts in central Buenos Aires - Azul, Rauch, Ayacucho and Tandil.
In Bolivar, in central western Buenos Aires, "the situation is very difficult," the government said. Conditions vary widely from one field to another and the report said wheat plants in the Pehuajo district were in excellent shape, though they do not need more rain.