Argentine farmers forged ahead with sowing the 2008/09 soy crop this week but rains are needed in some areas, the Agriculture Secretariat said on Friday in a weekly crop progress report. The secretariat estimates a record soy area of 18.1 million hectares (44.7 million acres).
By Thursday, it said 34 percent had already been sown, 11 percentage points more than the prior week but lagging last season's pace by 3 points. This year's soy area is 8 percent bigger than the 2007/08 campaign's.
"The progress made in Laboulaye district (Cordoba) was significant sowing will continue in the coming days after the rainfall," the government report said, adding that reseeding had been carried out in some areas affected by hail. In Buenos Aires province, the secretariat said more rainfall was need to moisten soils for planting.
Cordoba province is Argentina's top soy grower, followed by Buenos Aires. Argentina is the world's third-biggest soybean exporter and the top supplier of soymeal and soyoil. The government has not yet forecast production, but the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) expects the country to produce a record 50.5 million tonnes, up from 46.2 million in 2007/08.
SUNFLOWERS Sunflower sowing neared completion in parts of Buenos Aires province but the lack of widespread rains slowed progress, the government report said.