http://investba.com/2010/01/more-rain-efficiency-mean-bumper-crop-in-ba/

Argentina soy farms like this one for sale can be found in the InvestBA Property Database.

As farmers in Argentina and Uruguay ride a wave of recovery, exports are booming and banks are poised to increase lending dramatically, according to Bloomberg. We’ve covered the bullish forecasts regarding this year’s corn and soy crops, and now it appears the banks have taken notice.  “Banco Galicia, Argentina’s second-biggest farm lender, expects agricultural loans to increase about 40 percent this year after no growth in 2009,” says Bloomberg, while “HSBC forecasts an expansion of as much as 30 percent to a record volume.” Argentine farmers are expected to produce 54.5 million metric tons of soybeans and 21.4 million tons of corn this year, annual increases of 65 percent and 69 percent from 2009. Bankers and farmers are equally optimistic given the record harvests coincide with an improving interest rate environment. Across the river, cattle farmers in Uruguay continue to fill the gap left by falling production levels in Argentina. Beef exports from Uruguay rose 27% in March to 203,465 tonnes compared to March 2009, according to Meat Trade News Daily. 40 percent of Uruguay’s beef exports went to Russia and Asia with Russia demanding 90 percent more beef and Asian markets buying 122 percent more Uruguayan beef compared to 2009. According to Ag Weekly, “the USDA increased production estimates of soybean crops from Brazil and Argentina, the world’s No. 2 and No. 3 producers, but said strong demand from China will help consume the bumper crops. “

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Heavy rains, biotechnology and greater efficiency will mean a corn record harvest in BA.

Heavy rains, biotechnology and greater efficiency will mean a record corn harvest in Buenos Aires.

After a dismal 2008 marred by drought and dramatically reduced output, corn farmers in Buenos Aires finally have something to celebrate. Bloomberg reports today that “Argentina, the world’s second-largest corn exporter, may increase output by more than 42 percent this year from previous estimates as spring rains boost yields to a record.” While officials were forecasting 12 million tons of corn production as recently as December, that estimate has grown to 17 million tons, of which 9 million tons (52%) would be available for export. Given Argentina’s location in the Southern Hemisphere and reverse growing season, corn farmers have a unique, wait-and-see advantage, according to the USDA’s Economic Research Service: “Farmers (in Argentina) plant their corn after the size of the U.S. crop is known, providing a quick, market-oriented supply response to short U.S. crops.” The local harvest begins next month, and ample rains combined with greater efficiency in planting and harvesting are both key factors in this year’s record production. When times got tough, many Argentine farmers (like the one in this Monsanto video) turned to biotechnology to improve crop yields. While Argentina remains the world’s second-largest exporter of corn (Chart), the USDA notes “Brazil, Ukraine, Romania, and South Africa have had significant corn exports when crops were large or international prices attractive. (Bloomberg Article)

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