Argentine Peanut Crop Update as at November 22, 2009

Till November 22, 2009, it continued being mainly dry, and the temperatures were normal as for the season. Although there were some storms, there were not widespread precipitations. The rains were of scarce millimeters, and took place in specific and isolated areas.

In the central Argentine peanut region, there are areas where the farmers are not able to finish with the planting due to the luck of rain. This situation is very worrying if we consider how advanced the appropriate period for the planting is. Those farmers that had something of humidity continued at full speed with the planting.

Apart from the lack of precipitations, it is the harmful effects of the winds that cause wind erosion, damaging the peanut plants already emerged. Due to the same effect, it was delayed the vegetative development because of the « burn » of the sprouts and the leaves of the small plants.

The emergency of the planted peanuts shows, in general, appropriate stand of plants; and without registering comments of replanting necessity so far. Nevertheless, if this situation would happen, it could take place in some very isolated points and in not very significant surfaces.

Another task that was delayed because of the winds’ effect it was the application of herbicides for the early control of the weeds. However, there have not been problems on the implanted cultivars so far.

Estimated Peanut Planted AreaThe Ministry of Agriculture of the Nation foresees that the surface planted with the peanut cultivar in the current agricultural 2009/2010 cycle would be about 220,000 hectares. It is a decrease of about 100.000 Hectares.

Source : GEORGALOS PEANUT WORLD’s Services