Despite interruptions due to excessive rains, weather conditions have in general favoured harvesting of the 1998 coarse grain crops. Harvesting of the maize crop is virtually completed and a historical high 19.3 million tonnes have been collected. This mostly reflects the excellent yields obtained as a result of the adequate humidity at planting and during the crop development period brought about by El Ni�o. Harvesting of the sorghum crop has been also practically completed and output is provisionally estimated at a record 3.17 million tonnes.
Planting of the 1998 wheat crop has been virtually completed. The area planted is expected to some 15 percent below last year's average level, as farmers in the large growing areas, particularly in the important Buenos Aires Province, have been attracted into alternative crops because low wheat prices.
Dry weather conditions have affected the development of the 1998 wheat (winter) crop in the important producing eastern department of Santa Cruz. Harvesting is about to start and lower than average yields are anticipated. Fieldwork in preparation for planting of the 1998/99 first season cereal crops is underway in the high plains and Andean valleys which have also been affected by the lack of rains. Planting of the important potato crop has just initiated. Assistance for the rehabilitation of the affected areas has been requested by the Government.
The area planted to the 1998 wheat crop in the main producing southern states of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Parana is estimated 10 to 12 percent below 1997 average level. The decline reflects a combination of unattractive wheat prices, the possibility to shift to more profitable crops relative to wheat, and expectations of unfavourable weather. Harvest is due to start from September and output is tentatively forecast at an average level. Yields are expected to improve which would help compensate the smaller area planted.
Planting of the 1998/99 maize crop is about to start. Farmers are expected to increase plantings because of the attractive prices following last year's relatively low output when El Ni�o associated drought affected the maize crop particularly in the north and north-east of the country.
The recently planted 1998/99 wheat crop is being affected in central areas by a severe dry spell. The crop, to be harvested from December, was expected to recover from the 1997/98 below-average level; however the outlook is poor as latest forecasts indicate that precipitation is likely to be below normal in the months ahead.
The dry spell is also affecting planting of the 1998/99 coarse grain crops, principally maize, which has just started. Reduced plantings relative to the 1997/98 average level are anticipated.
Harvesting of the 1998 coarse grain crops is underway. A recovery is expected in maize production, the main cereal. The 1997 crop was seriously affected by El Ni�o induced drought. Rains have resumed since April, benefiting planting and development of the crop. Output is tentatively forecast at an average 1.2 million tonnes which compares to last year's 800 000 tonnes. Production of sorghum, by contrast, is expected to decline for the third consecutive year. Harvesting of the important paddy crop is about to start. A recovery is also anticipated from the 1997 affected crop. Some 330 000 tonnes of milled rice should be imported in 1998 (January/December) to help meet last year' production deficit.
Harvesting of the 1998 coarse grain crops, principally maize, is well advanced. The outlook is poor as the crops have been affected by prolonged adverse weather due to El Ni�o. Some 170 000 hectares of maize plantings, mainly distributed along the coastal provinces, have been seriously damaged. Immense losses have been also incurred to the paddy crop, as well as to important cash crops such as coffee, cocoa, soybeans and bananas. A request for assistance in the rehabilitation of agricultural activities in the affected areas has been made by the Government.
Normal weather conditions have recently resumed following a prolonged drought which severely affected the country's most important paddy and sugar cane crops. Livestock was also affected. A state of emergency was declared by Government and 28 000 tonnes of food aid have been pledged by the international community.
Harvesting of the 1998 wheat crop is well advanced. Prospects are good and a slightly above-average output is tentatively forecast. Harvesting of the maize (yellow) crop is also underway. Production is expected to recover and an above-average output, similar to 1997, is forecast. Paddy production, by contrast, should decline from 1997 record level and a near average output is anticipated. The outlook is good for the important potato crop and about 1.9 million tonnes have been collected in the first six months of 1998, some 10 percent above last year's output for the same period.
Weather conditions have improved in recent weeks helping thus alleviate the situation for the agricultural sector which had been affected by a severe prolonged drought caused by El Ni�o. Harvesting of paddy, the main crop, is underway. The outlook is poor despite improved weather conditions and for the first time in its history, the country would have to import rice to help meet the deficit in production. The Government has made an appeal for the rehabilitation of agricultural activities and thus help prevent food shortages in the next agricultural season.
Planting of the 1998 wheat crop has resumed following several disruptions caused by excessive rains, the result of the tail-end effects of El Ni�o. The area planted is expected to decline from the 1997 slightly above-average level.
Fieldwork is underway for planting of the 1998/99 coarse grain crops, to start from September, as well as the important foreign exchange earner paddy crop. This year's crop was seriously affected by heavy rains and flooding at harvesting, and although an average 870 000 tonnes of paddy were collected, output was 16 percent lower than in 1997. Farmers' planting intentions will largely depend upon weather conditions. Latest weather forecasts indicate that normal conditions should prevail.
Harvesting of the 1998 maize (white) crop has recently started. Early forecasts indicate a decline in production from last year's above-average level, but output would still be about average. This reflects reduced plantings largely caused by the combination of increasing production costs and newly imposed constraints in financial terms and conditions. The important paddy crop, currently being harvested, is expected to be slightly below average, a decline from 1997 near-record level. Harvesting of other basic food crops, such as roots, pulses and vegetables is underway.