Brazil Grain Production Expected to Reach New Record

By CnAgri2012-08-13 19:30:32 Print

New estimates for Brazil's annual grain harvest indicate a total production of 165.9 million tons for the 2011/2012 season, a record for Brazilian agricultural production.

According to the 11th Harvest Survey announced by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Mapa) Mendes Ribeiro Filho, and the National Supply Company (Conab) the grain crop is expected to exceed last year's production volume by 3.1 million tons, representing a 1.9 percent increase from the 2010/2011 harvest.

"We have reached an extremely significant figure, which allows us to make optimistic forecasts and review planning for the next harvest. It is possible that we will reach the 170 million ton mark before the end of the year," said Mendes Ribeiro.

According to Secretary for Agricultural Policy of the Ministry of Agriculture Caio Rocha, Brazil's record harvest is the result of an increase in cultivated area and, more importantly, investment in technology.

"Due to strengthened genetics and qualified surveys, new varieties and instruments for land conservation are emerging, which goes to show that Brazil is a first world nation in terms of agricultural production," said Rocha.

Data show 71.7 percent growth in production of second crop corn, equivalent to an increase of 16.1 million tons from the previous harvest, reaching a total 38.56 million tons.

Last year 22.46 million tons of corn were harvested.

These results in corn production are due to favorable conditions for cultivation in areas with the greatest production.

Estimates for consolidated first and second crops show an increase of 26.8 percent or 15.37 million tons to a total estimated production volume of 72.78 million tons of corn in 2011/2012. Soybean and rice production has decreased by 8.9 million and 2.01 million tons, respectively.