December 4, 2009

Brazil soy, corn output to increase onset of rains

According to a government official, Brazil's soy and corn crops will increase next year as they benefit from rainfall in the Center-West region.

Showers in the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso, Goias, Mato Grosso do Sul and southeastern Minas Gerais will boost soy and corn yields for harvesting that will start in January, said Airton Camargo, the head of agribusiness data at the Agriculture Ministry's crop-forecasting agency.

Camargo says that yields in the region that produces 52 percent of the country's soy and 41 percent of corn output mean the government may keep its estimate of a larger crop in 2010 even as some southern crops are hurt by excess rains.

Farmers are seen to produce between 62.5 million tonnes and 63.6 million tonnes of soy next year, up from 57.1 million tonnes this year, Conab said last month.

Meanwhile, corn growers will harvest 50.9 million tonnes to 52.2 million tonnes of the grain, compared with 51 million tonnes this year.