South America Calling

Brazilian farmers had planted 92% of their soybean crop as of Friday, some seven percentage points ahead of last week but two points behind the year before, according to AgRural, a local farm consultancy.

With planting drawing to a close in the south and center-west of the country, the focus is turning to field work in the fast-growing Cerrado regions of the northeast where rain has been scarce.

Piaui and Maranhao states have suffered the worst of it, and the lack of rain has radically slowed planting. Piaui has planted just 23% of its crop, well down on the 50% registered at the same point last year. Not all is bad news in the northeast, though. Bahia state has planted 80% of its crop after good rains last week across the region's top-producing state.

Rains also were generally good across Mato Grosso, the No. 1 soybean state, where planting is now 96% complete. According to AgRural, ample soil moisture is generally favoring the development of the crop in Mato Grosso and the rest of the center-west region.

In Parana, the No. 2 soybean state, planting is 97% complete. Showers were rare across the state's soybean belt last week, but soil moisture levels are generally fairly high. The big-producing west of the state needs some more rain.

The No. 3 state Rio Grande do Sul is 89% planted. The crops do need more rain after only scattered showers last week, but soil moisture humidity remains good, said AgRural.

However, the weather forecasts contain no more than light rains for Rio Grande do Sul and Parana over the next week.

(CZ)

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