Astarta prepped to plant 158 ths ha in 2009

In a press release yesterday, Astarta (AST PW) said it was ready to begin its spring sowing campaign in early April. The company plans to sow 23.3 ths ha of spring barley (up 5% yoy), 15.2 ths ha of soy (up 21% yoy), 12.3 ths ha of corn (up 16% yoy), 11.2 ths ha of sunflower (up 2.7% yoy), 15.8 ths ha of forage crops (up 11.3% yoy) and 2.8 ths ha of other crops. In addition, the company has already prepared 35.1 ths ha for sowing of sugar beets (up 17% yoy). The group hopes its in-house sugar beet production will secure 90% of raw materials in its sugar production this year. In total, Astarta said it would plant 158 ths ha (up 15% yoy) in 2009.