Farmers engaged in strike action in Argentina have announced their protest will end on Wednesday evening, as originally planned, though anti-government sentiment remains widespread

The strike initially began in Buenos Aires province on Saturday 2nd May over increases in land tax, though it was extended as farmers’ organisations in other regions joined to voice their discontent.

Argentine farmers who have been withholding sales of agricultural produce, including soybeans, maize and livestock said they would bring an end to their strike, but that more actions would follow in protest against taxes and export restrictions.

Although the strike may have unnerved the Argentine government, coming just a few years after protests which began as agricultural actions rocked the country’s leadership, the effect was said to be minimal on the country’s export trade.

Grain supplies at Argentina’s docks were healthy before the strike began, though exporters admitted that they could not have held out much longer if the action had continued, and farmers need to recoup money after first drought then torrential rain hampered crop development in the country's agricultural provinces and cut yield estimates for maize by a third.

Argentina is amongst the world’s top exporters of both soy and maize and hd been on track for a bumper 2011/2012 crop, though estimates for both crops have been severely dented due toerratic weather in the first half of the year.

Eduardo Buzzi, head of the Argentine Agrarian Federation (FAA), announced last night that the protesting farmers’ decision "doesn't mean the struggle is over."

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