Brazil's 2009-10 soy harvest at 66% as of March 26

Brazilian farmers harvested 66% of the upcoming 2009-10 soy as of March 26, local agricultural consultancy Celeres said.

Brazilian farmers in key regions progressed from 56% harvested as of March 19 and 52% at the same time a year ago, Celeres said Monday (March 29).

Brazil's soy harvest also remains ahead of a five-year average of 49% of soy harvested at this time of year, Celeres said, noting that the country's harvest is expected to be a bumper 65.7 million tonnes of soy, up 13% from 2008-09.

Farmers started harvesting their beans earlier this year in parts of Mato Grosso, the No. 1 soy-producing state, hoping to take advantage of higher prices by reaping their beans earlier than farmers in other regions.

As a result, farmers in Mato Grosso had harvested 95% of their upcoming soy crop as of Friday. They had harvested 88% at the end of the prior week and 84% at the same time a year ago.

The soy harvest in Parana, Brazil's No. 2 soy-producing state, gathered pace to reach 76% as of March 26 versus 62% in the previous week and 68% a year ago.

Rio Grande do Sul, the No. 3 soy producer, which traditionally is the last state to begin harvesting, had harvested 16% of its beans by March 26 compared to 6% in the prior week and 4% a year ago.