November 20, 2006

Asian soybean rust found in Brazil's Mato Grosso

Asian soybean rust was found in eight towns in Mato Grosso, Brazil's leading soy producing state, the local Estado newswire reported.

Most of the crops with Asian soybean rust were found in the north of Mato Grosso.

"In the regions where the fungus has been found, the plants are old enough for farmers to start spraying fungicide. It will be a good idea to take preventative measures and spray now in areas nearby where there is no soybean rust yet," said agronomist Fabiano Siqueri of the Mato Grosso Foundation, a crop science firm.

Mato Grosso is currently in the final stages of planting its 2006/07 crop. Last year, in the 2005/06 season, Asian soybean rust ruined part of the state's total production. Farmers, especially in the north of Mato Grosso, have already committed to investing less in agrochemicals this year because of high debts and overhead costs associated with the last two seasons.

Early estimates have put Brazil's new crop between 53.9 and 55.2 million tonnes, according to the National Commodities Supply Corp (Conab).

Mato Grosso is expected to harvest between 14.9 million and 15.4 million tonnes of soybeans in 2006/07 compared to 15.9 million tonnes last season.

Brazil is the world's no. 2 soy producer and exporter behind the US.