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December 10, 1999
DRYNESS THREATENS BRAZIL SOYBEANS
Brazil's 1999/2000 soybean crop, currently estimated at 31.0 million tons, is being threatened by prolonged dryness. Production shortfalls are likely if rainfall conditions do not improve within the next three weeks.
Nearly 78 percent of soybeans were planted by December 3rd, which is lightly behind schedule compared to 80 percent during last year and 85 percent for the 5-year average. The southern states of Mato Grosso do Dul, Parana and Rio Grande do Sul are lagging behind due to the ongoing drought (shown below).
November vegetation conditions during 1999 were worse than in 1997 and 1998 in the states of Mato Grosso do Sul, Parana, and Rio Grande do Sul, which jointly produce about 51 percent of Brazil's soybeans. Rainfall to date has been about 20-30 percent of normal in these three states. However, near normal rainfall conditions continue to prevail in other key soybean areas of Mato Grosso, Goias and Minas Gerais.
For more information, contact Rao Achutuni with the Production Estimates and Crop Assessment Division on (202) 690-0140.
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