Oct. 13 (Bloomberg) -- Argentina’s wheat crop is being helped by rain to recover from this year’s drought and subsequent unseasonable cold weather in the world’s fourth- largest exporter, the Buenos Aires Cereals Exchange said today.

“Rain is falling at a critical stage as this is the time when the size of crops is defined,” Eduardo Anchubidart, an agronomist at the exchange, said today in a telephone interview from Buenos Aires. “The rain that fell on Saturday and Sunday offers a good forecast for wheat crops.”

As much as 80 millimeters of rain fell in certain areas over the weekend, he said. The rain has been “especially beneficial for southeastern Buenos Aires province, where 40 percent of the wheat crop was planted in the current season,” said Anchubidart.

Wheat sowing plunged 40 percent in Argentina this year because of bad weather and a government ban on wheat exports, which was lifted last month.

The rain is also good for corn, for which the sowing season begins this month. Argentina is planting its smallest corn crop in two decades and the country is set to fall behind Brazil and become the world’s third-largest corn exporter.

To contact the reporter on this story: Rodrigo Orihuela in Buenos Aires at rorihuela@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: October 13, 2009 10:47 EDT