“Argentine grain farmers fear for their future amid Covid-19”, 2^nd April 2020

…The tradition of sharing mate has been derailed as the country locks down and adopts social-distancing to stem the tide of the coronavirus. The pandemic has cost exporters in Argentina tens of millions of dollars in business so far as some mayors refuse to let grain trucks into their towns…

Between Covid-19 and overly wet weather that has slowed harvesting in the world’s number three soy and corn exporter, and number one supplier of soymeal livestock feed, Argentine growers are facing disruptions that could force importers to turn towards rivals in Brazil and the US…

In the coming weeks, as the harvest of soybeans and corn accelerates, the sight of farmers working their harvesting combines alone will become a common one.

The harvest is expected to be 52-million tonnes of soy and 50-million of corn, according to the Buenos Aires Grain Exchange. Growers are bagging an increased amount of crops until pandemic- and rain-related bottlenecks clear up…