Soybean planting reaches 52% of estimated area.

With favorable weather conditions in much of Brazil, the planting of the 2011/12 soybean crop is developing without problems and reached 52% of the estimated 25 million hectares by Friday (4), a weekly increase of 11 percentage points and 10 points ahead of what was recorded a year ago, according to a survey by the consulting firm AgRural.

The progress occurred despite irregular rainfall in some areas, typical of the La Niña phenomenon, AgRural highlighted. The consultancy estimates that Brazil's 2011/12 soybean crop should reach a production of 73,64 million tons.

"With the area for the second corn crop guaranteed and concerned about the concentration during harvesting, which could cause a series of logistical problems in early 2012, many producers in Mato Grosso have eased off the gas in recent days, especially in the north and south of the state," said AgRural. Even so, the weekly progress was 12 points, bringing planting to 75% of the total area in the main producing state.

In Mato Grosso do Sul, on the other hand, farmers maintained the accelerated pace. Encouraged by the rains, which restored moisture to areas that had already lacked water, they advanced 22 points in seven days, extending planting to 84% of the area.

In Paraná, the second largest producer, good soil moisture conditions allowed planting to reach 66% of the area, in line with the 65% rate from a year ago. "What worried producers was the drop in temperatures, although this has not yet hampered plant development," the consultancy highlighted. In Rio Grande do Sul, planting reached 20%.