ARGENTINA (31 May)
Harvesting of the 2004/05 maize crop is currently underway with normal weather conditions. More than 80 percent of plantings had been harvested as of May 26 and early official forecast point to a record output of 19.5 million tonnes. This result is mainly due to the increased plantings in Buenos Aires, Santa Fe and Córdoba provinces and to the adequate rainfall that determined very good yields, in some cases above 9 tonnes per hectare. Harvesting of 2004/05 sorghum crop is virtually completed and official early forecast points to an above-average output of 2.9 million tonnes. It is the consequence of good yields as well as the increase in planted area of about 15 percent due to the need to introduce sorghum in the annual rotation and to the increasing demand of the feed industry. Planting of the 2005 winter wheat crop, to be harvested by the end of the year, started in mid-May but its progress has been delayed because of reduced soil moisture in key producing areas of La Pampa and southern Buenos Aires. Planting intentions point to 6.2 million hectares, up slightly from last season’s 6.07 million hectares. Harvest of 2005 paddy crop is about to be completed and output is expected to be similar to previous year’s result, slightly above 1 million tonnes.