December 6, 2004

Brazil 2004-05 Soy Planting 90% Complete

Brazilian farmers have planted 90% of their potentially record 2004-05 soybean crop up to Friday, moving forward from 76% last week, said local agricultural consultants Safras e Mercado Friday.

Planting is slightly behind the 92% planted at the same stage last year but on a par with the five-year average for the crop.

Fieldwork is almost complete in Sao Paulo, where 99% of projected area has been planted.

In the No. 1 soybean state of Mato Grosso, planting was 94% complete, on a par with last year and the five-year average.

Farmers in Parana, the No. 2 soy state in the south of the country, have planted 97% of the crop, equaling the pace of last year and slightly ahead of the five-year average of 96%.

Safras forecast Brazil's 2004-05 soybean production will total 63.2 million metric tons, up from 49.9 million tons produced last year.