March 16, 2005

Brazil's soy crop 20 percent harvested to March 11 

Brazilian soybean farmers had harvested 20 percent of their record 2004-05crop (October-September) up to March 11, the same as at the same point last year but behind the five-year average of 22 percent, according to the local agricultural consultants Celeres.

The center-west remains the region with the most soybeans harvested at 31 percent, slightly behind the 32 percent registered last year, while southern farmers have reaped 15 percent of their crop, the same as last year.

Within the southern region, farmers in Parana have harvested 31 percent of their crop while producers in Rio Grande do Sul have barely started. It will only be possible to measure the full effects of the drought in that state once crops start being collected, said the report.

Crop sales moved forward a little over the last week following a price rally.

Up to March 11, farmers have already sold 44 percent of their crop, sharply lower than the 58 percent sold at the same time last year and down on the five-year average of 51 percent. Farmers in the center-west have sold most with 50 percent of the harvest already committed.

Brazil is the world's No. 2 soybean producer after the US.