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Production
Estimates and Crop Assessment Division |
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Production
Estimates and Crop Assessment Division |
October 2, 2002
Argentina’s 2002/03 sunflower planting season is underway and ahead of normal. Planting in northern Argentina begins in August and by late October reaches 50 percent completed. Planting in the northern Argentine Provinces of Chaco and Santiago del Estero is complete and sunflowers are beginning to flower in Chaco Province. Rainfall has been slightly above normal for Chaco and Santiago del Estero Provinces. There was concern about localized cool temperatures in early September; 3 percent of the area was affected by the late frost. Rainfall for the main sunflowerseed producing area of southern Buenos Aires has also been above normal. Planting begins in that district in about two weeks.
USDA's estimate of Argentine sunflower production for 2002/03 is 4.0 million tons, up 8 percent from last year. USDA estimates harvested area at 2.3 million hectares, up 16 percent from last year. Average yields of 1.74 tons/ha are forecast.
Early reports from northern Argentina confirm the expectations of the overall area increase. Sunflower area increased by over 100 percent in northern Argentina, according to the Argentine Agricultural Secretariat’s estimate of planting intentions. Planted area in Chaco Province is estimated at 350,000 hectares; Santiago del Estero’s sunflower area is estimated at 113,200 hectares, increases of of 119 and 284 percent, respectively. Higher sunflowerseed prices and good returns have boosted prospects for sunflowers. Sunflowerseed harvest occurs in late November and early December in northern Argentina and can provide cash for subsequent planting of soybeans or cotton. Buenos Aires Province is the top producer of Argentina’s sunflower with almost half of production coming from that Province. The minor sunflower growing areas of Argentina are projected to account for 17 percent of production, up from 9 percent last year.
