Uruguay expects smaller wheat, corn crop

Given the record wheat yields the last two years, farmers in Uruguay are expected to plant more in the 2024-25 season, but total production is expected to drop slightly, according to a report from the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Production in 2023-24 is estimated at 1.56 million tonnes, one of the top three largest volumes in history because of extraordinary record high yields.

“The crop technology used by farmers and excellent weather combined to produce a great harvest,” the FAS said.

Production in 2024-25 is estimated at 1.3 million tonnes.

Exports in 2024-25 are estimated to drop to 800,000 tonnes from the decade-high of 1.13 million tonnes in 2023-24.

“Local brokers confirm that roughly 1 million tonnes are already committed, with a diverse list of destinations,” the FAS said.

Corn production in 2023-24 surpassed the 1 million-tonne mark for the first time, reaching 1.55 million tonnes. The comeback of the El Niño weather pattern encouraged a record high area of 205,000 hectares.

Production in 2024-25 is expected to drop 35% to 1 million tonnes as corn prices have dropped 40% to 50% in a year. Weather forecast also are predicting a comeback of La Niña dry conditions in spring and summer.

“A new negative factor on corn production is the appearance of corn stunt disease in the current crop, affecting especially the second/late corn crops in northern-central areas,” the FAS said.

Depending on the level of infestation, the disease can cut corn yields between 20% to 70%.

Rice production in 2024-25 is forecast to rebound at 1.43 million tonnes, rough base and 1 million tonnes milled base. Planted area is estimated at 163,000 hectares, the highest since 2017-18.

Tags: wheat, yields, crop, Uruguay, exports, corn, rice, estimate, Production