Argy Sunflower/Corn Crops Slashed
The Argentine Agricultural Secretariat has cut it's forecast for the 2009 sunseed crop to 2.4mmt, from last month's estimate of 2.5-3.0mmt.
That is now almost half of production in 2008 of 4.65mmt, and considerably lower than the USDA's most recent estimate of 3.0mmt.
Corn output has also been severely cut back, to 12.5-13.8mmt from 20.5mmt last season. Fully 28% of this season's crop has already been given up to pasture as potential yields were so low as not to warrant harvesting they said.
Recent rains may however have come just in time to save the recently planted soybean crop, they added.
That is now almost half of production in 2008 of 4.65mmt, and considerably lower than the USDA's most recent estimate of 3.0mmt.
Corn output has also been severely cut back, to 12.5-13.8mmt from 20.5mmt last season. Fully 28% of this season's crop has already been given up to pasture as potential yields were so low as not to warrant harvesting they said.
Recent rains may however have come just in time to save the recently planted soybean crop, they added.