Brasília – The second to last study for the Brazilian 2009/2010 grain crop, disclosed today (5) by the National Food Supply Company (Conab), shows that the country should consolidate record production of 147.1 million tonnes. The volume is 8.8% greater than in the last cycle (135.13 million tonnes) and 2% greater than the previous record 144.1 million tonnes, obtained in the 2007/2008 crop.
According to the Conab, the reasons for growth over the previous study, disclosed one month ago, when expectations were for 146.75 million tonnes, are for readjustment of figures for the area on which maize is grown in the states of Goiás and Mato Grosso and for soy production in Rio Grande do Sul. The company also pointed out the maintenance of productivity of second-crop maize in the states of midwestern Brazil.
Total soy production, according to the 11th Conab study, should end the year with production of 68.47 million tonnes, growth of 19.8% or 11.31 million tonnes more than in the 2009/2010 cycle. In the case of maize, the crop should total 54.38 million tonnes, 6.6% more or 3.4 million tonnes greater than in the last crop.
Despite the greater production of grain, the total cropland in the country dropped 0.7% (347,600 hectares) over the 2008/2009 crop, to 47.33 million hectares. The research was developed by 59 Conab technicians with representatives of cooperatives and unions, public and private organisations all over Brazil between July 19th and 24th.
*Translated by Mark Ament
