Argentina – lower wheat and soya harvests forecast

Argentina’s wheat and soya bean harvest for 2020 is forecast lower due to dry conditions. Argentine wheat production is pegged at 17.5m tonnes, which is down from a previous estimate of 21m tonnes, while Argentina’s 2020 soya bean crop is forecast at 46.5m tonnes – down from 50m tonnes.

Russia – wheat harvest is 95% completed

The 2020 wheat harvest in Russia is 95% completed as of this week. Russian grain farmers have harvested more than 85m tonnes of wheat so far this season, making 2020 one of the strongest ever wheat harvests for the country. Sowing of winter wheat crops is already under way.

US – soya bean harvest progressing

The annual soya bean harvest in the US continues to progress. As of this week, the soya harvest is 20% complete. In Iowa, one of the largest cropping states, the harvest is 30% complete. The USDA is reporting that almost two thirds (64%) of soya beans are in good to excellent condition at harvest.

China – China aims to cut pork imports

The Chinese government has said it plans to ramp up domestic pork production in order to end its reliance on imports of pork from markets such as Europe and the US. This drive to self-sufficiency will not happen overnight after China’s pig herd was decimated in half by African Swine Fever.