Argentina: Barley harvest advances with generally positive early harvest results

As barley harvest advances in Argentina, the weather has offered some challenges with rain during the last couple of weeks in December which delayed harvesting, RMI Analytics said in their latest report issued at the end of December.

Early harvest results are generally positive with yields slightly better than anticipated and quality good, except for some feed barley results in the Bahia Blanca area which showed test weight and sizing shortages caused by heat stress.

Overall, RMI Analytics’ production estimate for Argentina is slightly higher – at 5.1 mln tonnes – due to the generally good yield outcome from harvested area to-date.

The market remains very quiet as farmers try to advance harvest and where barley is cut, the crop is moving into storage. Prices are steady, with port logistics quiet in advance of a business schedule which begins in late December/early January.

The Argentina barley prices went down slightly in late December due to a focus on harvest and a lack of demand. Farmer FAS prices were down to a similar extent, after a run higher in an attempt to entice farmer selling (which was largely unsuccessful).