Brazil harvests 56 percent of soya crop

Brazilian soyabean farmers harvested 56 percent of the 2016/17 crop by the end of this week compared to 52 percent at this time last year and 47 percent for the 5-year average, consultancy AgRural said on Friday. Farmers in No. 1 soya-producing state Mato Grosso continue to be sharply ahead on harvesting, reaching 88 percent of the planted area when normally the state would be around mid-70 percent.
The other two large producers in the main center-west grains belt, Goias and Mato Grosso do Sul, are also ahead on soya collection after planting earlier than normal last year (see table below). AgRural also reported progress in the second corn crop seeding, which is the main crop for the cereal in Brazil accounting for around two-thirds of total production. Farmers, who usually plant the corn right after harvesting soyabeans, planted 88 percent of the expected area by March 9 compared to an 83 percent average for this time of the year.