February 7, 2008

 

Brazil 2007/08 soy crop seen at 62.2 million tonnes

 

 

Brazil should harvest a record-breaking 62.2 million tonnes of soy from the 2007/08 crop, farm consultancy AgRural said Wednesday (February 6).

 

Farmers started the year already on the expectation that they would not get the positive weather conditions they saw in the 2006/07 crop, but so far there has been none of the predicted dry weather problems at this time.

 

According to AgRural, some isolated weather problems in Bahia will see a slight reduction in yields to 45.1 bags per hectare from early forecasts of 45.8 bags.

 

Total planted area is seen at 22.3 million hectares, slightly lower than AgRural's 22.4 million estimate made in November, but up 4.6 percent from the 2006/07 season.

 

Total yields are expected to be on par with last year, around 2,786 kilograms per hectare.

 

Mato Grosso state, the No. 1 soy producer, is currently harvesting early-cycle soy in some parts of the state.

 

Mato Grosso is seen harvesting 16.8 million tonnes of soy, up 6.4 percent on the year.

 

No. 2 producer Parana should harvest 12.7 million tonnes, up 3.3 percent on the year, and No. 3 Rio Grande do Sul is seen producing around 9.8 million tonnes, down 3 percent from last year, due to a reduction in planted area estimates made earlier in the year.

 

AgRural estimated a 62.4 million tonnes harvest back in November.

 

Brazil is the No. 2 soy producer behind the US.