South America Calling

Brazilian soybean planting moved forward quickly again last week, allowing fieldwork to almost catch up with the normal schedule, according to AgRural, a local farm consultancy.

Planting of the 2014-15 crop was 63% complete as of Friday, up 17 percentage points from the week before and now only six points behind planting at the same stage of last year, said the consultancy.

Planting in Mato Grosso, the top soy state, progressed particularly quickly, jumping 20 points in the week to reach 82% complete. That's now only nine points behind last year.

Growers heeded forecasts of heavy rain in the second half of last week and planted quickly in the first half.

The scenario was the same in Mato Grosso do Sul, where there was an 18-point increase in area planted to 86%. In neighboring Goias, sowing advanced 22 points to 67% complete in anticipation of rains this week.

At the start of the month, fieldwork was a month behind schedule across large parts of Center-West due to the late arrival of spring rains.

Planting also progressed across the southern grain belt. In Parana, the No. 2 soy state, planting reached 76%, up from 62% last week but back from the 84% registered at the same point last year.

There is some concern about dry weather in the north of the state. However, rains were ample in the west of the state, which has now finished planting and where some crops have reached the crucial reproductive stages.

Planting is ahead of schedule in Rio Grande do Sul, the No. 3 soy state, where 45% is in the ground compared with 34% last week and 33% last year. Up to now, soil moisture conditions have been excellent, aiding germination.

For the next week, rains are forecast across most of the Brazilian soybean belt with the exception of Rio Grande do Sul, according to Somar Meteorologia, a local weather service.

Key parts of Mato Grosso, Goias and Mato Grosso do Sul will receive the heaviest showers, it said.

(CZ)

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