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April 18, 2002
Argentina: Rain Delays Sunflowerseed Harvest
Heavier-than-normal rains in March across Argentina’s agricultural areas have delayed the 2001/02 sunflowerseed harvest. Harvest reached 69 percent, compared to 93 percent last year, according to the Argentine Ministry of Agriculture report from April 12. In southern Buenos Aires Province, which accounts for 36 percent of sunflowerseed production, the harvest has been delayed in Tres Arroyos delegation, which has reached 53 percent harvested, compared to 85 percent last year. Rainfall in Tres Arroyos has been higher than normal in March. In Tandil delegation, where harvest has reached 54 percent, compared to 91 percent last year, rainfall has also been higher than normal for most of the season. Precipitation amounts during the week of April 7 to 13, 2002 have been less, but more time is needed to dry out fields before harvest work can restart.
USDA's estimate of Argentina’s 2001/02 sunflowerseed production is at 3.5 million tons. Sunflower harvested area is estimated at 2.0 million hectares, and yields are estimated at 1.75 tons per hectare. Sunflowerseed production has dropped in recent years from the peak of 7.1 million tons in 1998/99 due to lower vegetable oil prices.
