December 9, 2010

Brazil's main soy belt states advance with ample rainfall

The crops in Brazil's soy belt, nearing the end of planting, is progressing with sufficient rainfall and a coming cold front over the weekend will moisten most of the main grain states, forecasters said Wednesday (Dec 8).

Rains following planting are critical for germinating soy that will need to form a canopy to help preserve soil moisture levels during dry spells that could befall the crop later in the season.

Parana, Brazil's No.2 soy producing state, has gotten 170 millimetres of moisture in the first seven days of December, surpassing the average rainfall of 147 mm that typically falls over the entire month. Another 20 mm is expected today, December 9, in the state and a weekend cold front will bring even more rain.

"There is some concern about Asian rust with its being so moist in Parana now. The same will be the case for Goias next week when widespread rain blankets the state for about a week," Somar meteorologist Celso Oliveira said.

The fourth soy producing state of Goias, which is located in the soy-rich central-west, is in line to get up to 100 mm of rain from December 13 through 17, Oliveira said.

Mato Grosso, the top soy state, will also get rain from the cold front that will drench Goias, but with only about half the volumes, he added. Mato Grosso has been getting about 30-50 mm of rainfall every five days, Oliveira said.

Third major soy state Rio Grande do Sul has been getting just enough rainfall on its northern farms to sustain recently planted soy. The northern regions of the state's soy farms have been getting better rainfall than the west.

"Over the weekend the front that will push rain into the centre-west will first bring moisture to just about all of Rio Grande do Sul," Oliveira said.