Argentina. Rains may improve conditions of a later planted soybean

Argentina did receive heavier than expected rains over the weekend of 1- 2.5 inches in Cordoba, southern Santa Fe, and northern Buenos Aires. For some farmers, this was probably one of the best rains of the summer. The forecast looks wetter especially in the 6-10 period. The question is did the rain come too late for any meaningful recovery of the crops.

The soybean crop in Argentina was 8.8% harvested as of the middle of last week according to the Buenos Aires Grain Exchange. This is approximately 7% ahead of last year's pace. The soybeans are maturing quickly and the harvest is starting quickly due to the dry weather that has accelerated the crop maturity. The early planted soybeans were 60% to 70% turning yellow last week with 37% mature and 12% harvested. The later planted soybeans were 46% filling pods. Recently there have been some low temperatures in Argentina with scattered frost which is worrisome because they might cut short the pod filling period for the later maturing soybeans.

Of the soybeans harvested thus far, 49% have been from the northern core region where yields range from 2,100 to 4,300 kg/ha (31.0 to 63.6 bu/ac). Farmers in the southern core region have harvested 18% of the soybeans thus far and the yields range from 2,000 to 4,800 kg/ha (29.6 to 71.0 bu/ac). In Cordoba the yields thus far are in the range of 1,200 to 2,500 kg/ha (17.7 to 37.0 bu/ac). In north central Santa Fe the yields range from 400 to 1,800 kg/ha (5.9 to 26.6 bu/ac).

The early planted soybeans are rated 82% poor to very poor and 90% short to very short on soil moisture. The later planted soybeans are rated 92% poor to very poor and 94% short to very short on soil moisture.