The production estimate of the seventh Systematic Survey of Agricultural Production, by IBGE, is 0.15% above the June figure, with increase of 4.90% over the amount obtained in 2005, when 117,9 million tons of cereals, legumes and oilseeds were harvested.

In 2006, the Brazilian harvest of cereals, legumes and oilseeds (cotton seed, peanuts, rice, beans, castor beans, corn, soybeans, oats, rye, barley, sunflower seeds, sorghum, wheat and triticale) may reach 118,094 million tons, an estimate 0.15% higher than that of June (117, 922 million tons) and 4.90% higher than the harvest obtained in 2005 (112,574 million tons). The main production gains expected are: grain corn – 1^st harvest 4,518,845 t (16.64%), grain corn – 2^nd harvest 2,397,628 t (30.1%), soybeans 1,457,767 t (2.85%). The planted area in 2006, estimated to be 45,739 million hectares, was reduced by 3.85% in comparison with 2005. The crops which underwent the biggest decrease in terms of planted area were: rice in grain (945,749 ha or -24.13%), soybeans (909,371 ha or -3.97%) and wheat in grain (646,954 ha or -27.43%).

By region, in millions of tons (and percentages of participation in the national production), the total obtained was: South, 49,664 (42.5%); Central West, 38,954 (32.99%); Southeast, 15,984 (13.54%); Northeast, 10,050 (8.51%) and North, 3,444 (2.91%). 

In 2006, there was increase of the production of the 25 main crops

Among the 25 products investigates by LSPA, 15 had higher estimates than in 2005: peanuts in husk – 2nd harvest (4.8%), oats in grain (0.4%), potatoes – 2nd harvest (8.99%), potatoes – 3rd harvest (1.53%), coffee in grain (18.83%), sugarcane (7.65%), onions (4.64%), beans (grain) – 1st harvest (10.87%), beans (grain) – 2^nd harvest (32.75%), oranges (0.02%), cassava (7.43%), grain corn – 1^st harvest (16.64%), grain corn – 2^nd harvest (30.11%), soybeans (2.85%) and sorghum in grain (0.13%). There was decrease of the estimates for: herbaceous seed cotton (grain) (-23.19%), peanuts in husk – 1st harvest (-12.74%), rice in husk (-12.44%), potatoes – 1^st harvest (-7.40%), cacao beans (-12.28%), barley in grain (-14.79%), beans in grain – 3^rd harvest (-7.96%), castor beans (-32.64), wheat in grain (-22.87%) and triticale in grain (-7.12%).

Corn rises 19.70% and wheat falls 22.87% in relation to 2005

Once the harvest of summer products is practically over in the main grain- producing centers in the country, the monitoring of second and third harvests and of winter crops goes on.

Corn – 2nd harvest remains in favorable conditions, with rise of 19.70%. The highlight is the increase of production in Bahia (24.11%), Paraná (55.04%), Mato Grosso (7.31%), Mato Grosso do Sul (89.37%) and Goiás (42.68%), resulting from the climatic conditions in the planting period of this cereal. There have been, however, some difficulties in the storage of this product, because the soybeans is still stored, and will remain so until it has better prices.  

The production of wheat, the main winter product, may reach 3,592,839 tons, with significant decrease (22.87%) in relation to 2005. This occurred to the reduction (-25.10%) of planted area in all the producing states, caused by the low prices of this product in the internal market, and also by the difficulty in the commercialization of the latest harvests. Besides, the lack of capital and non-compliance by producers resulted in the low technological level of this harvest, which may damage the average yield.

In relation to 2005, the production of coffee is expected to rise 18.83%; the production of sugarcane, by 7.65%

The national harvest of coffee is expected to reach 2,535,768 t (42,2 million sacks of 60 tons each) of processed grains, an increase of 18.83% in relation to 2005. Despite the slight increase (0.94%) in the area planted in 2006, the average yield expected this year is 1,083 kg/ha, 17.72% higher than that of the previous harvest 9920kg/ha).

The rise of sugar prices in the external market, together with the increase of exports of alcohol and the bigger internal demand for the development of bio-fuel cars, has caused great expectation for the sugar-alcohol subsector. Production of 455,272 million tons, 7.65% above that of 2005, is expected, due to the increase of planted area (7.56%), which has been observed in the main producing states. New plants have been built, especially in the Central West. In Goiás and in Mato Grosso do Sul, production increased above the national average, by 20.94% and 24.00%, respectively. The dry period in the last three months has damaged crops in São Paulo: the major national producer and responsible for 58.44% of the Brazilian harvest faced reduction of productivity (1.94%), in comparison with the previous year.

In relation to June 2006, the highlight is the rise of corn and soybeans

In relation to June, it’s important to highlight the changes in estimates for six products: coffee in grain (-1.00%), barley in grain (-8.54%), grain corn – 1st harvest (0.51%), grain corn – 2nd harvest (2.79%), soybeans (01.14%) and wheat in grain (-0.49%).

The production estimate of coffee in grain fell by 1.00%, due to adjustments in some municipalities of the area of Manhuaçú, in Minas Gerais. Possible damages to productivity, caused by the dry period in the beginning of this year, may be more easily evaluated in the coming months.

Concerning barley in grain, there is the same situation as in June: decrease of 8.54%. Such reduction was influenced by the new results in Rio Grande do Sul, the major national producer, the state in which there  have been problems in the classification and commercialization of the latest crops, and also reduction of planting areas.

The production of grain corn – 1^st harvest had slight decrease (0.51%); in terms of 2^nd harvest corn, there was increase of 2.79%, results affected by some new data from Paraná, the main producing state in the country. Considering soybeans, increase of 0.14% in production resulted from reevaluations of data from the South region. The production estimate for wheat had slight decrease (0.49%),as a consequence of the reevaluation of results in the states of Paraná, where there was a dry period in initial phase of development of this crop.