May 16, 2007 

CELERES: Brazil 2006/2007 soy harvest nears completion

Brazil's 2006/07 soybean crop is almost entirely harvested, the Celeres agricultural consulting firm said on Monday (May 14) that Brazil's 2006/2007 soybean crop harvest is nearly complete.

Areas that remain unharvested are in Rio Grande do Sul, Parana, Santa Catarina and Minas Gerais.

Celeres says that harvesting ended two weeks earlier than is usual as planting in some areas were earlier than the usual as part of its strategy to prevent occurrences of Asian rust at the more critical stages for the crop.

The earlier harvesting was also attributed to bigger number of harvesters.

Meanwhile, forward sales of the crop have been relatively slow, at 62 percent sold nationwide against 60 percent last week and 66 percent at the same time last year.

Mato Grosso has sold 75 percent and those of Parana and Rio Grande do Sul have 45 percent and 47 percent respectively.