A shortage of rain has set back Argentina's farm exports, with maize and wheat both suffering serious reductions in tonnage. But long-term targets remain well in reach, thanks to a soya boom. Argentina's agricultural sector confronted both natural and man-made ills during the 2005-6 season, as crop output slipped backwards to 76M tonnes, from the previous season's 84M-tonne peak. Nevertheless, most analysts tell Fairplay that the 100M-tonne goal for 2010 remains in reach. Severe drought in late 2005 and January 2006 caused the maize crop to plummet to 14M tonnes from 21M tonnes; wheat was also severely affected, falling from 16M to 12.3M tonnes, although a reduction in sowed area also played an important role.
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