Argentina expects this season's corn crop to total 21.2 million tonnes versus its previous official estimate of 20.5 million to 22.0 million tonnes, the Agriculture Ministry said on Thursday. The ministry, in its monthly crop report, also changed its 2011/12 soya harvest forecast to 44 million tonnes from a previous range of 43.5 million to 45.0 million tonnes.
In the 2010/11 season, the government said, 23 million tonnes of corn was brought in and 48.9 million tonnes of soya. The South American country is the world's second-biggest corn exporter after the United States and the third-biggest exporter of soyabeans. Farmers in Argentina's vast Pampas grains belt have started collecting this season's corn and soya.
Original estimates for both crops underwent cuts after drought hit the Pampas during the height of the Southern Hemisphere summer in December and January. Initial projections put corn at up to 30 million tonnes, while up to 53 million tonnes of soya was forecast at the start of the planting season. Only 2 percent of early- and late-planted Argentine soya is in "very good condition", the report said. Some 11 percent of early-seeded soya is in very bad shape, as is 12 percent of late-seeded soya, according to the report.
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