Beginning April, the government has established a fund of about USD 283 million to subsidize 46 000 small producers of grains, who produce less than 700 tonnes, to compensate for the fall in international commodity prices. Small farmers are estimated at 70 000 and account for about 12 percent of the grain production in Argentina, particularly wheat, maize, soybean and sunflowers. The 2014 wheat production was estimated at record level, while the 2015 maize crop, being harvested, is expected at above average level for the second consecutive year.