October 11, 2010

 

Brazil's soy belt seen dry up to mid next week

Brazilian soy belt farmers will have to wait until at least the middle of next week for rain that could probably boost the planting of the 2010/11 crop, Somar meteorologists' data showed Friday (Oct 8).

 

A new cold front is advancing over Brazil's southeast but has not been enough to bring substantial rains over the centre-west, Somar said in a daily soy weather bulletin.

 

Early planting started in Parana and Mato Grosso do Sul, helped by initial rains in late September and early October, but new rains are now essential for the development of the crop.

 

In Mato Grosso, rains that fell recently were not enough to prompt wide planting, according to local soy producers association Aprosoja. Producers say the delay in planting would not affect soy output as long as rains arrive in the coming weeks. Rains are not expected to fall over Parana, Rio Grande do Sul or Mato Grosso do Sul, until October 13.

 

So far this month, Parana has had 84 mm (3.3 inches) of rains while in Mato Grosso do Sul rainfall has totaled 29 mm. Both states, that usually get 160mm during the whole month of October, saw some heavy downpours in late September.

 

In Rio Grande do Sul, rains have totaled 33 mm so far in October. But planting in this southernmost state is not expected to start before late October to early November.

 

Mato Grosso has received between 14mm and 29mm of widespread rain so far this month, which has not been enough to stimulate broad plantings. Moisture levels in the soil are still very low, Somar said.

 

"We had very isolated, light showers. They didn't offer conditions to plant," said Aprosoja's technical director, Luiz Nery Ribas.

 

According to state's Agricultural Economic Institute, Imea, as of October 7, planting was only 1.7% of the expected area, down from 14% a year ago.

 

Rains in the state, which usually kicks off soy plantings in Brazil, are a little more than a month behind the first show of rains last year. La Nina is seen as the main force behind the late arrival of spring rains.

 

Over the full month, it usually gets 135mm to 155mm. More significant rains are not expected in the state until mid-October, according to Somar.

 

In Goias, weather is also forecast to remain dry till next week, at least. But from October 13-17, areas in the south of the state could benefit from showers. So far, Goias has received 54mm of rainfall in October, a month that usually brings 130mm for the state.