August 9, 2011

Brazil's 2011-12 soy acreage to expand 3%

Brazil's soy acreage is expected to grow 3% next season as attractive prices push producers to expand planting in frontier areas, analysts said Monday (Aug 8).

The area planted to soy is expected to reach 25 million hectares (61.8 million acres) in 2011-12, up from the 24.2 million hectares this season.

The main summer corn planting that will start in the coming months will grow by 400,000 hectares to 8.3 million hectares, experts said.

However, soy yields for 2011-12 should be lower than this season, when they were exceptional. Harvest ended in May and the next crop will start planting in September.