ARGENTINA (27 September)
Planting of 2005/06 winter wheat has been recently completed. Official estimates point to an area planted slightly below 5 million hectares, a 20 percent decrease compared to the previous year. This considerable reduction is mainly due to limited soil moisture at planting in key growing areas of Buenos Aires, La Pampa and Cordoba. Part of the area not planted to wheat is expected to be planted to sunflower in October. Currently, despite some localized damages due to freezing temperatures, the wheat crop is in good conditions, but precipitations are needed in the upcoming weeks, especially in South-West growing areas. Early forecasts indicate an output of 12.5 million tonnes. With some delay due to low temperatures, planting of 2005/06 maize crop started at the beginning of September and planting intentions tentatively point at 3.15 million hectares, about 7 percent below the area planted the previous year. Early estimates indicate 2006 maize crop production between 17 and 18 million tonnes, well below the 19.5 million tonnes record production obtained in 2005. Planting of 2005/06 paddy crop is about to start and planting intentions point to 166 000 hectares, with a 1 percent increase on 2004/05.