Record 140 tonne harvest forecast for 2018/19 season

Argentina’s farmers will harvest 140 million tonnes of grain in the 2018/2019 season – the largest harvest in the country’s history – the Agriculture Secretariat said this week.

The result would represent a 25percentincreaseonlastyear’s harvest of 112 millions tonnes, government officials said, addressing the recent third Conference on Agricultural Perspectives at the Buenos Aires Grain Exchange.

The event addressed the situation facing national and international markets, as well as productive and climatic conditions.

“Despite the fierce drought, Argentine producers have again put their bets on the country demonstrating its strong commitment to agriculture, which is the engine of our economy”, Agriculture Secretary Luis Etchevehere said, speaking from China where he formed part of a trade mission.

Thegovernmentestimatesthe 2018/19harvestwillbringin54.2 million tonnes of soybean, representing a 44-percent increase on last season’s 37.78 million tonnes; and 49.68 million tonnes of corn. For wheat, a new record harvest of 20.14 million tons is expected, with an intention to sow of 6.2 million hectares. The forecast for barley production is for 4.48 million tonnes, while sunflower production will hit 3.7 million tonnes and sorghum 3.74 million.