Jan 16, 2024

2023/24 Argentina Corn 85% Planted, 20% Pollinating

Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.

The corn in Argentina was 84.6% planted as of late last week, which represented an advance of 7% for the week. Most of the corn left to plant is in far northern Argentina where the corn is 30-40% planted.

Weather continues to improve in Argentina as the corn enters its reproductive phase. Nationwide, corn is approximately 20% pollinating and 4% filling grain. In the core production areas, the corn is 65-70% pollinating and 15-20% filling grain under good conditions. I have had a higher bias for the Argentina corn estimate for several weeks and now that a sizable portion of the crop is pollinating under good conditions, I thought it was time to increase the estimate. Therefore, the 2023/24 Argentina corn estimate was increased 3.0 million tons this week to 56.0 million and I maintain a neutral to higher bias going forward.

In the January WASDE report, the USDA left the 2023/24 Argentina corn estimate unchanged at 55.0 million tons.

The corn in Argentina is rated 5% poor/very poor, 59% fair, and 36% good/excellent. The good/excellent percentage is down 1% from the prior week. The soil moisture for the corn is rated 6% short/very short, 93% favorable/optimum, and 1% saturated. The favorable/optimum percentage is up 4% from the prior week. Below is the corn rating from the Buenos Aires Grain Exchange.

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2023/24 Argentina Corn Ratings*


ConditionSoil Moisture
Poor/V. Poor %Good/Excellent %Short/V ShortFavorable/Optimum
Nov. 23, 20234 (25) 29 (12) 25 (32) 75 (68)
Nov. 30, 20232 (25) 26 (15) 24 (30) 76 (70)
Dec. 7, 20232 (26) 36 (18) 24 (33) 75 (67)
Dec. 14, 20231 (23) 40 (18) 24 (28) 74 (71)
Dec. 21, 20231 (27) 37 (17) 16 (36) 81 (73)
Dec. 28, 20231 (27) 38 (15) 11 (36) 87 (64)
Jan. 3, 20233 (38) 37 (8) 10 (47) 89 (51)
Jan. 10, 20235 (47) 36 (7) 6 (60) 93 (40)

*Source: Buenos Aires Grain Exchange – Crop Condition & Development Stages