At a conference held on May 15thin the city of Salta, CLERA provided planted area and production estimates for this year’s crop. These estimates, as well as others obtained through a post-conference interview, are depicted in the table below. CLERA arrived at the exportable supply figures reported here by subtracting the expected disappearance during processing as well as the amount set aside for seed from the total production projected for each bean class. Carryover from 2018/19 was nil across all bean classes.
The numbers shown here assume normal weather conditions through harvest. In the event of a major weather impact, such as frost, these figures will need to be readjusted.
Harvest Conditions
This year, Argentina will harvest the bulk of its dry beans form early June through late July, and possibly into early August. The extended harvest window reflects the rain delays that slowed seeding during the spring. An estimated 25% of the crop was planted late this year and faces an elevated risk of frost. The late-planted beans are in the northernmost growing area, where alubia beans predominate.
In late May, wet conditions were also an issue, with rain interfering with pre-harvest preparations. The moisture that accumulated throughout the growing season contributed to some outbreaks of sclerotinia, which will affect yields in the fields that were affected.
Winter Crops
The CLERA conference also provided estimates on winter crop plantings. The chickpea area is estimated at 80,000 ha., down from last year on low prices (600 USD/MT C&F). The dry pea area is projected to remain about the same as last year at 85,000 MT, consisting of 60,000 ha. of green peas and 25,000 hectares of yellow peas.
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