Argentina wheat harvest kicks off with yields below expectations: BAGE

The wheat harvest is underway in the north of Argentina with early signs suggesting initial yields are already below expectations, the Buenos Aires Grain Exchange has warned Thursday.

Despite less than 1% of the crop being harvested, the effects of drought and then cold weather and frosts have become apparent, BAGE said. 

“The first yields surveyed were below the regional averages as a consequence of the lack of humidity at critical moments of grain filling,” BAGE said, adding that “frosts registered at the beginning of the month would have an impact on the yield potential of wheat and barley”.

BAGE did not rule out possible cuts in its wheat production estimate but left its current view unchanged.

Meanwhile, sunflower plantings have moved south with the first grounds covered in Buenos Aires and La Pampa, edging the national efforts up by 1.9 percentage points on the week to 41% complete.

Sunflower sowing is 2.4 percentage points ahead of this stage of last year and a total of 1.9 million hectares is expected to be planted.

Corn sowing has also started in the south of the country with 26.9% complete, up 7.4 percentage points on the week with 5.8 million ha expected to be planted this year, some 300,000 ha higher than last season.

BAGE also noted that fields effected by the frosts at the beginning of the month are now recovering.

https://www.agricensus.com