URUGUAY (6 June)
Harvesting of 2004/05 maize crop has been recently completed and production is tentatively estimated at 200 000 tonnes, well below the production of 290 000 tonnes that was expected at the beginning of the season. In fact, despite a 30 percent increase in the area planted in response to high domestic prices in 2004, maize crop production declined about 10 percent from last year’s good output as a consequence of the negative effects on yields caused by the dry weather conditions that prevailed in producing areas from December to February. Harvesting of 2005 paddy crop is about to be completed and production is estimated at 1.2 million tonnes, slightly below last year’s record output due water shortages that affected planting operation at the end of 2004. Plantings of 2005 winter wheat and barley crops have just started. Area planted under wheat is expected to be similar to the 180 000 hectares planted in 2004, while plantings of barley are expected to decrease some 20 percent from 2004 record acreage of 137 000 hectares.