URUGUAY.
SUMMER CROPS.
The ministry of Agriculture in Uruguay, said that there are 593,000 hectares of summer crops currently planted in the country.
This is an increase of 49% on the area planted in 2007.
The wheat crop is 460,000 hectares, malting barley 121,00 hectares.
Winter crops are expected to increase by 26% this year, to 773,000 hectares, planting will start in the next few weeks.
Sorghum has doubled, sunflower will expand 70%, while soy is only expected to increase by 8%.
The second summer crop will be around 1,025,000 hectares, remembering that all farms in Argentina grow two crops per year.
The contracts from breweries, for beer making barley are currently at 155,000 hectares.
The exports of soy for 2008, according to Customs figures were 840,000 tons.
Despite the move from cattle and sheep into arable farming, the costs of fertilizers, fuels, seed and chemicals are eroding net anticipated profits.
