South America Calling

Brazilian farmers had collected 59% of their soybean crop as of Friday, nine percentage points ahead of last week and only marginally behind the 63% harvested at the same point last year, according to AgRural, a local farm consultancy.

Clear skies across the south of the country allowed fieldwork to progress quickly last week.

Harvest efforts have begun to gain pace in the southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul. The No. 3 producing state had collected 11% of the crop as Friday. The crop in the region looks good, although Asian rust issues and reduced rainfall in recent weeks is worrying some farmers.

In Parana, the No. 2 soy state, soybeans have been 68% collected with excellent yields reported.

In Mato Grosso, the harvest is nearly complete at 88% harvested, down from 92% at the same point last year. Showers during the course of the week did not affect fieldwork in the No. 1 soy state. Heavier rain did have an impact on fieldwork in neighboring Goias, though. The harvest moved forward just five percentage points to 77% complete in the No. 4 state.

(AG)

© Copyright 2015 DTN/The Progressive Farmer. All rights reserved.