Live from Argentina
Our trip continues and this struggling little journo is trying to get some tips off the locals but the only problem is I can’t understand the words. Have heard snippets of what is happening locally (native Marnoo) and for once I am not going to expand on it, instead I will bring you updates from here. Here we go:
Left Pinimar in Argentina and headed to Montevideo the capital of Uruguay, first impressions a lovely city.
Uruguay has great coast lines and some of the best resorts line the East coast
There are more private jets than domestic and International flights into Monte airport, a lot of high flyers (myself NOT included) like heavies from business and Hollywood actors holiday here.
Monte has a population of 1.5 million which is exactly half the countries population.
The are big beach goers with a high percentage living along the Rambela (Boulevard) where all they have to do is walk across the street to take in some rays.
Whilst these people are upper and middle class over the other side of the city are the poor.
I actually did some work (no really) attending meetings with Ovis 21 boss Ricardo Fenton, some where in Spanish (of which I looked as though I knew what they were talking about) but some where in part English where I had some small contribution.
We then headed out to visit some farms and some sheep with a guy called Carlos Frick (you say Frick as though you are in Germany).
Frick is one big loose pizzle, easy going bloke whom I swear is Murray “Balquidder” McGregor’s long lost twin brother. It’s amazing the similarities in size, looks and actions.
They drive on the “wrong side” here in South America and they drive fast, always looking to overtake even on doubler lines. When this little black duck took the wheel it was a little more conservative.
The first farm we visited had been in that family for 250 years
Cropping has really taken off over here with Soya Beans been “the” crop at the moment. The 18 month rotation is Soya/Wheat/Soya and the last crop they just put in the seed, no inputs.
Soya is $US450 a ton and they can grow 2.8 ton consistently
All of Uruguay has a rainfall of between 1000 and 2000 mm per year, that is 40 to 80 inches and it happens all year round.
This is magnificent country and the climate encourages growth all year round.
Land prices have gone through the roof, with continues cropping and forestry.
There is a lot of overseas investment in land here, people are starting to realise its potential.
One farm we visited which is on the edge of the good cropping country was bought 4 years ago by a wealthy Local supermarket chain owner for $US500/ha, he could now sell it for $US4000/ha
The sheep are mainly Corriedales and are grown for there wool and at 27 microns average no wonder cropping and forestry are taking over.
However the MPM boys are starting to make an impact taking some 2 micron off the Corriedales in one cross and another 2 in the second cross.
There are 12 million sheep in Uruguay down from some 25 million 20 years ago, there are also 12 million cattle.
We went to a sheep sale which was like a Blue ribbon breeder sale, let’s just say that they are a long way behind the Aussie sheep.
Footrot is bad here due to the humid conditions all year round and they also have screw worm, which is bad and yes the sheep get flies as well.
Corriedales have the black feet so they seem to think they are less susceptible to footrot, they may be right but they still get footrot.
This is truly an amazing country and Agriculture here is about to boom if it hasn’t already, farmers are in for a change of fortunes as they have been doing it tough for the last 60 years (according to Frick). Everyone is wanting to invest in land in Uruguay.
I recon that if you came over here and started selling grain handling equipment, eg Silos, augers etc you would make a fortune, it is still primitive.
Left Montevideo airport for BA and had 20 mins to catch a connector flight to El Calafate, that’s one way to ignore customs. We made it with some help from the airline company but it was tight and we had plenty of frowns when we walked on the plane.
We are now back in Argentina and will spend the next 2 weeks touring around farms in Southern Argentina and Chile as well as Northern Argentina.

Until next time.