August 31, 2012

With an increased availability of a special credit line, Brazil is encouraging corn growers not to switch to soy.

Brazil is concerned that a poor output in the summer corn season, which competes directly with soy for acres, may drive up prices, damaging pork and poultry producers that use the corn for feed, Deputy Economic Policy Secretary Joao Rabelo said.

"Corn is at a price that makes it very attractive for growers now," Rabelo told reporters in Brasilia. "The reality is that soy is way more profitable for farmers," he said.

Farmers will have access to as much as US$395,000 in credit at below-market interest rates to cover the costs of producing corn, up from US$247,000 previously, Rabelo said.

Corn prices have increased 26% this year, while soy has climbed 42%, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.