BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Abundant rainfall over Argentina’s core farming heartlands over recent weeks is favoring production of soybean, corn and wheat for one of the world’s largest grain exporting nations, the Buenos Aires grain exchange said on Thursday.
Argentina’s previous 2022/23 season was battered by a fierce drought triggered by the La Nina weather phenomenon, but rains brought by El Nino could help the South American country secure a heftier 2023/24 harvest.
In a weekly crop report, the exchange said that 98% of planted soybeans were in normal to excellent condition thanks to “optimal moisture”. Argentine farmers have so far planted 51.7% of a projected 17.3 million hectares (42.7 million acres).
Corn farmers have planted 40.3% of an expected 7.1 million hectares, the exchange said, while harvesting of wheat has progressed to over 48.2% of 5.6 million hectares ready for picking.
It reiterated that this season should ultimately produce some 14.7 metric tons of wheat.
(Reporting by Nicolas Misculin; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by Sandra Maler)