American wheat producing countries

URUGUAY

Basic statistics

Institutes

Agro-ecological zones

Map of agro-ecological zones

Varieties

Average	1980	1985	1990	1995	2000
Population (1000)	2 914	3 009	3 106	3 218	3 337
Arable land (1000 ha)	1 403	1 280	1 260	1 260	1260 (1999)
Irrigated land (1000 ha)	79	97	125	160	180 (1999)
Agricultural tractors (No.)	32 878	34 600	32 804	33 000	33 000
Harvesters (No.)	4 641	4 600	4 660	4 7000	4 700

WHEAT	1980	1985	1990	1995	2000
Production (tons)	306 577	246 143	417 400	392 900	310 000
Harvested area (ha)	227 346	211 708	225 500	168 200	150 000
Yield (kg/ha)	1 348	1 162	1 851	2 336	2 066
Import (tons)	23 090	651	63	477	6 494
Export (tons)	-	-	163 868	78 820	12 198
Consumption (kg/per/yr)	104.6	97.7	95.9	99.2	85.0

Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria (INIA) Estación Experimental La Estanzuela Ruta 50 - km 11 70.006 Colonia URUGUAY The National Institute for Agricultural Research (INIA) operates through five experiment station around the country. La Estanzuela experiment station is the leading one in terms of wheat technology in Uruguay. It carries out research activities in wheat breeding, variety testing, soil and crop management, plant protection (disease, pest and weed control), agroclimatology, grain quality and biotechnology. These activities are being held at the main facilities in La Estanzuela and at regional trials along the wheat cropping area. The seed department produces foundation seed that is further multiplied by private seed companies in order to fulfil farmers' demand. These enterprises acquire new realises on a license basis, paying then the corresponding royalties according to the amount of seed sold. Wheat cultivars are protected. Since the early twenties of last century this station has been realising wheat cultivars, covering most of the national cultivated area. Wheat production technology is permanently updated and the results are transfer mainly to extension agents through activities such as technical meetings, seminars, field days and different kind and scope of publications.

Universidad de la República Facultad de Agronomía Estación Experimental "Dr. Mario A. Cassinoni" Ruta 3 - km 363 60.000 Paysandú Uruguay Research activities refer to soil and crop management, and plant protection (disease, pest and weed control). Some basic research is carried on at the Faculty of Agronomy headquarters in Montevideo. All these activities are related to the education duties of this experiment station. Research results are communicated through technical meetings, publications, field days and other extension activities.