Brazil Soy, Corn Crops Seen at Record on Planting, Rain

Mario Sergio Lima – Bloomberg, 02/07/2013

Soybean output in Brazil, set to surpass the U.S. as the largest grower, will rise more than previously estimated to a record as growers expand planting, the government said. The corn forecast was also raised to a record.

Growers will harvest 83.4 million metric tons in the 2012-2013 crop year that started Sept. 1, more than the 82.7 million tons estimated last month, the Agriculture Ministry’s crop-forecasting agency, known as Conab, said in a report today. Production will climb from 66.4 million tons collected in the past season.

Rising soybean prices are encouraging growers to expand planting, while regular showers on corn crops are helping boost yields after dry weather hurt output in the past season, Conab said. Soybean futures have risen 21 percent in New York in the last 12 months.

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Brazil 2011-12 soy crop seen down

Paul Kiernan – Marketwatch, 10/06/2011

Brazil’s soy production is expected to decline in 2011-12, as the excellent weather that contributed to the previous year’s bumper crop won’t likely repeat itself, while good prices attract farmers into cotton and corn.

Government crop-supply agency Conab said Thursday it estimates Brazil’s 2011-12 soy production at between 72.19 million and 73.3 million metric tons, down from last year’s output of 75.32 million tons.

The expected drop in soy output reflects lower productivity, as planted area is set to increase 2% to 3.5% from the 24.18 million hectares sown in 2010-11. Conab said some farmers will want to plant corn rather than soy due to demand for feed from the local poultry and pork industries, as well as crop-rotation needs.

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