Argentina Expects Dry Weather to Speed Up Soybean Harvest

By Maximilian Heath

BUENOS AIRES, April 23 (Reuters) – Argentina’s main farm regions will see mostly dry weather over the next seven days, as forecasted by the Buenos Aires grains exchange. This favorable weather outlook is expected to provide much-needed relief to the delayed 2024/25 soybean harvest, which has been hindered by excessively wet fields.

Heavy rains in March and early April significantly slowed down the soybean harvest, pushing it below the average of the last five years. This delay has put grain yields at risk and adversely affected the overall agricultural output.

The Buenos Aires grains exchange stated, “High atmospheric pressure conditions will prevail in the coming days, bringing mostly clear skies and minimal rainfall to the farming areas.” This weather pattern is anticipated to accelerate the soybean harvest process, with an estimated output of 48.6 million metric tons.

The harvest delays have also impacted soybean sales, with farmers only managing to sell 23.4% of the 2024/25 crop as of April 16. This marks the slowest sales pace for this period in the last decade, according to the Secretariat of Agriculture.

Argentina is a crucial player in the global agricultural market, being the leading exporter of soybean oil and meal, as well as a significant producer of corn, wheat, and beef. The successful completion of the soybean harvest is essential not only for the country’s economy but also for global food supply chains.

(Reporting by Maximilian Heath; Editing by Alexander Villegas)