March 24, 2009
Brazil harvested 45 percent of new 2008-09 soy by March 20
Brazilian farmers harvested 45 percent of the new 2008-09 soy crop by March 20, according to agribusiness consultancy Celeres Monday (March 23).
Celeres said Brazil's soy harvest on March 20 was up 9 percent from March 13 and 7 percent ahead of the five-year average.
Mato Grosso, Brazil's No. 1 soy-producing state, had harvested 77 percent of its soy area by Friday.
Parana, the No. 2 producing state, had harvested 55 percent of its crop, according to Celeres.
Rio Grande do Sul, the No. 3 soy producer, has barely started with only 1 percent of the beans harvested.
Farmers in the center-west soy belt are traditionally first to start harvesting, ahead of the likes of Parana and Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil.
Celeres said Brazilian farmers had sold 40 percent of their 2008-09 soy crop in the week compared to 37 percent from the week before. That compared with a five-year average of 55 percent.
Brazil's Mato Grosso state had sold 57 percent of the crop by Friday, while Parana had sold 18 percent of its soy.
Brazil is the world's No. 2 soy producer, behind the US.
