January 19, 2004

Brazil Soy Crop In Good Shape

The soybean crop in Brazil's southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul was in good condition but will need rain in the next few days as the crop enters the crucial flowering phase, state agricultural officials said in a report.

The report said soil moisture levels were still adequate after some heavy rains in December. However, rain would now be welcome after a dry first half of January.

Rio Grande do Sul's crop has only received an average of 17 millimeters of rain in January, according to the local Somar Meterologia weather service. The state normally receives around 134 mm in the month as a whole.

In a weekly report, the state estimated that 84% of the crop was in the vegetative development phase, while a further 16% had reached flowering. Both figures are in line with the average for the time of year.

Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil's No. 3 soybean producer, is pegged to harvest 9.6 million to 9.7 million metric tons in the current 2003-04 season (October- September), up around 0.6% on the year before, according to Agriculture Ministry estimates.