The estimated production of cereals, legumes and oilseeds for 2007 is 133,4 million tons, with increase of 14% in relation to 2006 (117,0 million tons), resulting in increment of 445 tons to the previous estimate.

The estimated production of cereals, legumes and oilseeds for 2007 is 133,4 million tons, with increase of 14% in relation to 2006 (117,0 million tons), resulting in  increment of 445 tons to the previous estimate. Corn and soybeans have recovery properly, after facing problems related to adverse climactic conditions in previous harvesting periods.

According to the Systematic Survey of Agricultural Production (LSPA), the seventh estimate for the national production of cereals, legumes and oilseeds for 2007 is 133,4 million tons. This figure is 14% above the amount estimated for 2006 (117,0 million tons) and has surpassed June’s estimate by 445 tons. Soybeans (58.2 million tons) and 1^st and 2^nd harvest corn (51,7 million tons) made up 82.5% of the overall amount of cereals, legumes and oilseeds. Compared to the previous harvest, there were increases by 11.2% and 21.3%, in these products, respectively.  

The figure for harvested area (45,4 million hectares) is 0.4% lower in relation to the previous estimate. The crops which are expected to have the largest planted areas in 2007 are: soybeans (20,6 million hectares) and 1^st and 2^nd harvest corn (13,7 million hectares).

The volume of cereals, legumes and oilseeds to be produced in the Major Regions in is distributed as follows: South Region, 60,1 million tons; Central West, 44,2 million tons; Southeast, 15.9 million tons; Northeast, 10,2 million tons and North, 3.0 million tons.

Based on estimates calculated in July, the highlights of production in relation to June are: oats in grain (+1.6%), 2^nd harvest potatoes (-3.4%), 1^st harvest barley in grain (-2.2%), 2^nd harvest corn in grain (-5.5%), castor beans in segments (-15.5%) and wheat in grain (+3.6%).

Oats –The increase in oats in grain resulted from the increment of 2.9% which occurred in Rio Grande do Sul and from reevaluations of the average yield of this product in the state.

2nd-harvest potatoes – The reduction of the soybean production by 3.4% was a consequence of reevaluations in the state of Paraná, where production decreased by 19.7% due to dry periods in the beginning of the harvesting cycle, and to frosts which occurred in other phases of the harvesting period.

Barley – The fall by 2.2% occurred especially due to the lower harvested area in Rio Grande do Sul (-7.4%). The result of the classification of this product in malt factories in previous years did not stimulate producers in this state, and not all the initially planned planting was done.

2^nd Harvest beans faced production decrease of 5.5%

For 2^nd harvest beans, the fall by 5.5% in production was caused by the reduction observed, especially in Paraíba (31.9%), due to the dry period and also in Bahia (10.1%) due to the substitution of this product for corn, especially in the municipalities of Adustina and Parapiranga. This change reflects the prospects of good prices for this product in the international market, as a consequence of the reduced offer from North America, considering that part of the corn production in the USA will de directed to supplying the internal for ethanol.

Castor beans – The decrease of the national production of castor beans in segments (15.5%) occurred due to a severe drought in Bahia (-19.1%), which is the main producing center of this product.

Recovery of corn and soybean harvests

The harvest of soybean products is almost finished in the main grain producing centers in the country; winter crops and 2^nd and 3^rd harvest crops are still being evaluated. The highlight, in this case, is the recovery of the main summer crops (1^st harvest corn and soybeans), which faced serious problems on previous occasions due to adverse climactic conditions. Winter products have had good results so far, but this status is not permanent, considering the influence of climate, for example, of out-of-season frosts and/or rain during the harvesting period, until the end of the cycle of these crops.

National production of wheat increased by 3.6%

The current estimate of production of wheat was 4,1 million tons, which means increase by  3.6%. This increase is a result of revaluations in the area, due to the end of the planting period in Rio Grande do Sul. However, the occurrence of frosts in Paraná has caused damage to the crops which will be evaluated in coming surveys.

Seventeen products have positive changes in relation to the 2006 harvest

There were positive changes in seventeen of the twenty-five products analyzed, in relation to the pervious year: herbaceous seed cotton (30.5%), 2^nd harvest peanuts in husk (19.0%), 1^st harvest potatoes (22.6%), 2^nd harvest potatoes (4.4%), cacao beans (14.7%), sugarcane (12.9%), onions (4.2%), barley in grain (38.2%), 1^st harvest beans in grain (15.9%), oranges (1.1%), castor beans in segments (2.4%), cassava (2.9%), 1^st harvest corn in grain (15.2%), 2^nd harvest corn in grain (38.3%), soybeans in grain (11.2%), wheat in grain  (66.3%) and triticale (4.0%).  With negative changes were: 1^st harvest peanuts in husk (10.2%), rice in husk (4.0%), oats in grain (36.1%), 3^rd harvest potatoes (2.1%), coffee in grain (15.0%), 2^nd harvest corn in grain (17.5%) and sorghum in grain (15.4%).