October 9, 2008

Brazil 08-09 corn crop down at 55 million tonnes

Brazil should produce between 55 million and 55.9 million tonnes of corn in 2008-09, the National Commodities Supply Corp. (Conab) said Wednesday (October 8).

The forecast is down by 6 percent from total production of 58.6 million tonnes in the 2007-08 season.

Planted area should be between 14.4 million and 14.6 million hectares in 2008-09 compared to 14.7 million hectares in 2007-08.

The cost of producing corn is higher than soy and therefore many farmers are expected to switch some of their corn to soy in the first crop.

Brazil plants corn in the spring and again in the autumn for winter harvest.