Uruguay’s rice harvest reached 1.15 million tons; good prospects for next crop

Uruguay’s 2010 harvest of clean, dry rice reached 1.15 million tons with an average yield per hectare of 7.094 kilos. Total area planted was 161.900 hectares according to Uruguay’s Ministry of Agriculture Statistics Office. Crop and yields are below those of the last four years which averaged 8.000 kilos per hectare. Late and abundant rainfall last November delayed 18% of the area to be planted until December which caused problems during seeding time, says the report based on a poll taken between April 20 and 30. An estimated 94.000 hectares (almost 58% of the rice area) won’t be planted for the next crop because of crop rotation. The land will be left for pasture to feed livestock. Regarding next year’s harvest all farmers interviewed said they would repeat rice although a few had yet to decide what area. However assuming similar planting intentions to this year the total area for the 2010/2011 crop could reach 198.000 hectares, the largest in the last twelve years (1998/1999). This has been boosted by a more regular rainfall than when the previous poll in April 2009.