MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Uruguay soybean area expands for eighth year running

Soybeans has become the main summer cultivation in Uruguay for the agriculture year 2007/08, confirming eight years running of expansion according to the latest release from the country's Agriculture Statistics Office, DIEA.

According to the latest survey soybean plantations in Uruguay this summer will reach 447.000 hectares which represents a 22% increase over the previous. Summer sowing is expected to reach 628.000 hectares, with relevant increases in soy, corn and sorghum, approximately an additional 121.000 hectares over summer 2006/07. Similarly for third year running the corn area is expanding totaling 296.600 hectares, becoming the second most important summer crop behind soybeans. According DIEA this is the largest area planted in ten years. Another oil seed, sunflower is also significantly expanding totaling 21.400 hectares of first class seed and 16.100 hectares of second class seed. Sunflower was a declining crop in Uruguay until last year when the tendency was reversed and confirmed for 2007/08. Sorghum is also undergoing a strong boost, the largest area in ten years, up 39% from last year and almost four times the area of 2005/06. Regarding winter crops, wheat, barley and oats plantations totaled 397.000 hectares. Wheat experienced a 27% increase in area over last year reaching 245.300 hectares. According to DIEA the 2007 crop is only second to that of 1997/98. The barley area was up 8.4%, the largest in the last decade. However both in wheat and barley yields per hectare were below those of the previous crop, (considered historic records) because of not too favorable weather conditions.