BUENOS AIRES, Oct 28 (Reuters) – A shortage of rain in the northern part of Argentina’s farm belt continues to impact wheat and has already caused relevant damages to the corn planting area for the 2013/14 season, a local meteorologist said on Monday.
The area had abundant rain in October, but some areas still need more water and new precipitation likely won’t come until next weekend, the meteorologist said.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture expects grains powerhouse Argentina to produce 12 million tonnes of wheat this season, 53.5 million tonnes of soybeans and 26 million tonnes of corn.
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“There were no rains during the weekend” in the northern part of the central farm belt, said Jose Luis Aiello, head of the Applied Climatology consultancy.
In that area, “wheat deteriorated a while back and yields are going to be low. There could be rain next weekend, but not a lot,” he added.
The upcoming wheat harvest will start later this year and continue into 2014. Argentina produced 8.2 million tonnes of wheat in the previous season, according to official data.
The lack of rain has also caused delays in corn seedings and those areas originally slated for the crop will now be used for soy.
The oilseed, Argentina’s main crop, is more resistant than corn to adverse weather conditions and is also more profitable.
Argentina’s farmers last week started planting the 2013/14 soy crop, whose area is expected to grow 2.5 percent versus the prior season, the Buenos Aires Grains Exchange said on Thursday.
