The Buenos Aires Cereal Exchange has dropped its Argentine soybean production estimate. Farmers in Argentina are now expected to produce 51 million metric tons of soybeans, in 2018, below a September estimate of 54.0 million metric tons on a total planted area of 44.4 million acres. In comparison, the USDA still has Argentina's 2018 soybean production estimated at 56 million metric tons. In different regions of the country, the situation varies. Nearly 34.6% of the fields are considered by the Exchange to have a regular or bad condition, while 53% are under regular or dry prospects. Approximately 31.5% of the surface is at the stage that defines yields. The short-term perspectives do not foresee any relief, in terms of weather.  There was planting incorporation that still was not counted in this latest estimate by last week in the northern parts of the country. The early planted fields have crops that are finishing the growth stages, awaiting the beginning of the harvest in the coming weeks. For meteorologist José Luis Aiello from the Rosario Board of Trade, one of the reasons for the lower crop estimate is the lack of rainfall seen for the next 10 days, in the key producing regions. Even though planting has finished in the provinces of Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, and Córdoba the lack of rains can affect the crop development there. “The distribution of high pressure centers of high pressure centers in the Pacific and the Atlantic generate a situation that will limit the water supply during at least 10 days in Argentina and the south of Brazil,” said Aiello. Source - https://www.agriculture.com