Argentina: Drought reduces barley crop estimate to 3.8 mln tonnes
The drought has reduced earlier Argentina barley crop estimates of 5.4 to 3.8 mln tonnes, H. M. Gauger GmbH reported earlier this month.
Harvest has started in the north of the country, with poor yields of 2.0 2.4 tonnes/ha, screenings approximately 88%, proteins averaging 12.9%. The region of Bahia Blanca also reports low yields per ha.
In order to stimulate agricultural exports, the government has introduced once again a soya-dollar of Peso 225 / US$1.00, valid till the end of the year. Farmers will use the opportunity to sell soybeans and hold back wheat and barley, the analysts said.
Farmers new crop barley sales to-date are 0.9 vs. 1.8 mln tonnes last year. Export licences have been registered for 140 thousand tonnes of malting and 900 thousand tonnes of feed (FAQ) barley. FAQ barley sells almost exclusively to China.