Brazil bumper crop of corn estimated at 71.5 million tons
Brazil will reap a record grain harvest of 163.3 million tons this year, a gain of two per cent over 2011, the IBGE statistics agency says. The IBGE's latest forecast, based on July data is 1.6% higher than the previous projection.
The upward revision is due mainly to improved prospects for the maize crop, which is now expected to come in at 71.5 million tons, up 27% from last year.
Despite weather-related losses in the first half of 2012, the IBGE expects a bumper maize harvest thanks to improving environmental conditions and an expansion of 9.6% in land under cultivation.
“These numbers reflect the good prices the product is finding in the market, which makes the growers opt for cultivation and increases investment in technology,” the IBGE said on Thursday.
Global maize prices are rising due to crop losses in drought-stricken areas of the United States.
The soy harvest, however, is expect to fall 12.2% to 65.8 million tons because of unfavourable weather, while the rice crop is projected to shrink by 14.9% from last year, mainly as a result of less land under cultivation.
Corn, soy and rice together account for 91% of crop output in Brazil, one of the world's leading agricultural producers and exporters.
Half of the 26 crops tracked by the IBGE are forecast to enjoy bigger harvests in 2012, including cotton, up 4.9%; oats, 13.5%; and barley, gaining 15.6%. But IBGE is projecting declines in output of sugarcane and wheat, among others.
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I get the feeling they are happy selling animal feed for humans to eat.
Must be a “troll”
The balances between home consumption and export, and between ethanol production, human food and livestock food are all thrown out of kilter.
The impact on food aid can be massive ... the loss of life through starvation in the third world, disasterous.
But my 'troll' question still remains - why let human food maize enter the market-place when it has become so over-ripe and tough that it is inedible? What are the hypermarket Buyers thinking about? They wouldn't do it in the USA or the UK.
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