Brasília – Brazil could see a record-high grain crop in the 2018/2019 season, at 238.5 million tons. Crop output is expected to exceed that of last year by as many as 10.6 million tons, as per a survey made public this Thursday (11) by the National Supply Company (Conab). Planted area should increase by 2.3% to over 63 million hectares.
“Two things can lead to these numbers. One is growers making the decision to grow and financing – 40% of which should come from public sources – becoming available in time for them to buy seeds and inputs and sow their crops on the right days, as recommended by Embrapa (the Brazilian Agricultural Research Company) and other technical organizations,” Agriculture minister Blairo Maggi said.
The grain crop estimate is driven by soy, which should be somewhere between 117 million and 119.4 million tons and maize, at 91.1 million tons. Other drivers should be cotton – whose market prices are going strong – as well as peanuts, beans and sunflower.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
