August 12, 2009
Brazil soy area to reach 22.1 million hectares in 2009-10
Brazilian agricultural consultancy AgraFNP has pegged Brazil's upcoming 2009-10 soy area at 22.1 million hectares.
AgraFNP, in its first crop estimate for the 2009-10 crop season, said that Brazil's soy area should expand 380,000 hectares in 2009-10 from 2008-09.
Mato Grosso, the No.1 soy producing state; Parana, the No. 2 soy producing state, as well as Goias and Minas Gerais states will account for 88 percent of the expansion.
New areas will be opened up for soy, while many farmers will plant more soy rather than less profitable corn.
The area planted with corn will decrease 6.7 percent to 8.6 million hectares in 2009-10 versus last season, according to AgraFNP.
AgraFNP pegged the size of the soy crop at 61.9 million tonnes.
Another private consultancy, Celeres, recently pegged the area devoted to soy up 6.4 percent to 22.8 million hectares in 2009-10 compared with the previous crop season.
Brazil is in its inter-harvest period and planting should start in September or October.
Brazil is the world's No. 2 producer of soy.
