Agência Brasil*
Brasília – Brazil may reach a new record in grain production with the 2007/2008 crop. A survey of planting intentions conducted by the National Food Supply Company (Conab), which was disclosed today (04), shows that the harvest may be of 134.9 million to 138.3 million tonnes of grains.
The Conab explained that the range of variation in the estimative is due to "the early stage of agricultural planting, and the uncertainty of farmers about what to plant, and how much of it."
Anyhow, in comparison with the 2006/2007 harvest, the increase in the harvest may reach 5.2%, although it all depends on "variations of climate," according to the Conab.
The highlights in the record high production are soy, with a harvest forecast of between 59.4 and 61.3 million tonnes, or an increase of up to 4.9% in comparison with the previous crop; and the first crop of maize, which should be of 37 to 38 million tonnes, an increase of up to 4.6% using the same basis for comparison.
Cottonseed is another highlight of the survey conducted by Conab, with production estimated at between 2.5 and 2.6 million tonnes, or up to 8.5% more. On the contrary, the first crop of beans has a forecasted decrease in production of 13.9% to 11.1%, with a harvest of 1.3 to 1.35 million tonnes.
The survey by the Conab also points to an improvement in the perspective for the planted area, which "should count on an area 1.2% to 3,4% larger than that of the last period, and which should occupy from 46.7 to 47.7 million hectares."
Once again, the highlight was the soy crop, which may rise from 20.7 million hectares to an area of up to 21.9 million hectares. The reason for such rise, according to the Conab, is the return of soy planting to areas that had stopped being used in the 2006/2007. Next up is the first crop of maize, with a planted area forecast of 14.4 million hectares, over 13.9 million hectares in the previous crop.
The estimate of total planted area for beans, on the other hand, saw a decrease of 4.083 million hectares, to stand between 3.96 and 4 million hectares. The planted area for the first crop of beans, which was 1.3 million hectares in the last period, may stand between 1.19 million hectares and 1.22 million hectares.
The Conab has informed that the survey was conducted in the period ranging from September 17 to September 21. A total of 915 informants were heard, such as representatives of cooperatives, of public and private organisations, finance agents, and farmers in 305 municipalities, located in states in the mid and southern regions of Brazil.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
