October 25, 2004

Brazil 2004-05 Soy Planting 6% Complete

Brazilian farmers have planted 6% of their potentially record 2004-05 soybean crop up to Friday, which is much slower than the 11% planted at the same point last year and just behind the five-year average of 7%, said the local agricultural consultants Safras e Mercado.
 
Fieldwork did, however, move forward from being 2% complete at the end of last week, said the weekly report.
 
Planting was most advanced in Mato Grosso and Parana states, where farmers had sown 12% of the crop. But delays are greatest in Mato Grosso, where 29% of the crop was planted at the same point last year.
 
Safras forecast Brazil's 2004-05 soybean production will total 63.2 million metric tons, up from 49.9 million tons produced last year.