Crop Protection South America Monthly Report

Currently, it’s the beginning of corn planting season in Argentina. The ample rains can help corn seeds grow on the agricultural belt of the country, but they can also interfere with corn seeding.

On Sept. 26, 2012, the Rosario Grains Exchange estimated that the planting area of corn in Argentina might drop to 4 million ha. in 2012/13 due to the frequent rainfalls, while on Sept. 6, 2012, the Buenos Aires Cereals Exchange forecast that the corn planting area in Argentina would even lower to 3.4 million ha. in 2012/13, down 12% compared with that in 2011/12.

Although corn planting area is expected to drop, many forecasters still believe that the production of corn in Argentina will continue to increase in 2012/13 due to the high yield of GM corn.

Nowadays, many countries in South America continue to devote themselves to developing GM crops thanks to their high yield. Besides Argentina, Paraguay will boost GM cotton planting, and Uruguay approves the commercial launch of GM soybean, INTACTA RR2 PRO™, in the 2012/13 season.