BUENOS AIRES: Argentina's wheat belt was hit by frosts early on Tuesday that threaten to damage 2013/14 crop yields, meteorologists said, warning that more cold weather was on the way.
Recently planted fields in northern Buenos Aires, Cordoba and Santa Fe provinces took the brunt of the cold snap.
"It could be serious," said Eduardo Sierra, weather expert at the Buenos Aires Grains Exchange. "This is a very weather-sensitive time of the year for wheat plants, depending on what stage of development each field is in."
"There will be severe frosts over the weekend ahead as well," Sierra added, "so it is quite possible that wheat will be damaged."
Argentina's National Weather Service said in the 24 hours through noon on Tuesday temperatures hit 0 degrees to minus 5 degrees Centigrade in large parts of the country's main grains province Buenos Aires and in corn-growing areas of Cordoba and southern Santa Fe provinces.
The combination of cold weather and dry planting conditions could take a significant toll on Argentine 2013/14 wheat output.
The agriculture ministry has cut its wheat planting area estimate to 3.4 million hectares (8.4 million acres) from a previous forecast of 3.9 million hectares, citing dry soils left by a rainless August and early September.
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