The drought that is drying out Argentina's farm areas will cut into the country's 2011/12 corn harvest, as crops struggle to flower under parched conditions, the government said in a weekly report on Friday. The world's No 2 corn producing country has been hit by dryness related to the La Nina phenomenon just as corn and soy plants need water to help them develop.
As of Thursday, the report said farmers had planted 88 percent of the areas slated for corn in Argentina, having advanced a scant 2 percentage points during the week. "The drought is getting worse day by day," the report said. Conditions are critical, particularly in the Bragado district of northern Buenos Aires province, the report said. "The situation may get slightly better if a healthy amount of rain comes in the days ahead, although possibilities of that happening are practically nil," the report added.
Buenos Aires is Argentina's top producing province for corn, soy and wheat. Analytical firm Informa Economics on Friday lowered its forecasts for corn and soybean production in South America, citing dry weather that has cut yield prospects. The firm cut its estimate of 2011/12 corn production in Argentina to 24.0 million tonnes from its December estimate of 27.0 million. As of Thursday, Argentine growers had planted 89 percent of the 19 million hectares planned to be sowed with 2011/12 soy, having advanced by 2 percentage points during the week, the government report said.