The seventh estimate for the national harvest of 2005 points to a reduction of  4.91% in relation to the 2004 harvest. Planted area may reach  48 million hectares , expansion of  0.50% in comparison with last year. Soybeans and corn will cover the largest planted areas , covering  23 million  and  8.7 million hectares, respectively.  Together, the two products represent  76% of the Brazilian production of grains.

According to the seventh estimate for the national harvest of grains in 2005, IBGE expects a national production of 113.507 tons of cereals, legumes and oilseeds (seedcotton, peanuts, rice, beans, castor beans, corn, soybeans, oats, rye, barley, sunflower seeds, sorghum, wheat and triticale). This figure represents a reduction of 4.91% in relation to the 2004 harvest (119.370 million tons).

In 2005, the area planted with grains is expected to grow by about 0.50%, reaching 48 million hectares. The highlights of the 2005 summer harvest are soybeans and corn, covering 23 million hectares and 8.7 million hectares, respectively. These two products constitute about 76% of the national production of grains.

The production of grains in the Northeast region will grow by 9.62% and will make up 9.03% of the 2005 harvest. The North, Southest and Central West regions, accounting, respectively, for 3.60%, 16.07% and 37.15%, will increase their production by 14.77%, 3.39% and 5.46%, respectively. With a participation of 34.16% in the  national production of grains, the South region is expected to present a reduction of 20.61% in its production.

Beans production is expected to grow by 5.80% this month due to larger planted area in Bahia

The estimated production of 2nd harvest beans for this month points to an increase of  5.80% in relation to the amount registered in June. Bahia, the major producing state in the country, has had its planted area enlarged and its productivity increased by 18% and 3%, respectively.  In the northeast area of Bahia , especially in the municipalities of Euclides da Cunha, Ribeira do Pombal, Paripitanga and Adustina, there has been regular occurrence of rain .

The production of 2nd harvest corn is expected to fall by 3.06%. In Paraná, between June and July, tere was  retraction of 16%, still a reflection of lack or rain during the vegetative growth period of this harvest.

In terms of wheat harvest, there was an increment of only 0.22% in relation to June, due to smaller area for wheat crops in Rio Grande do Sul. However, productivity grew from 1.726 kg/ha to 1.966 kg/ha. In this case, climatic conditions were favorable to planting.

The production of castor beans, soybeans and beans will grow  in relation to July 2004

There has been growth  in the estimated production, in relation to the previous year, for the following products: 1^st harvest beans (0.53%), 2^nd harvest beans (7.45%), 3^rd harvest beans (9.08%), castor beans (62.32%) and soybeans (3.31%). Falls are expected for: upland seedcotton (-1.11%), rice in the husk (-0.57%), 1st harvest corn (-12.09%), 2^nd harvest corn (-27.86%), sorghum in grain (-25.57%) and wheat in grain (-9.62%).

The 1^st harvest period is virtually over. The follow up from now on will be focused on winter products, 2^nd harvest corn and on 3^rd harvest products.

For the second harvest of corn in 2005, a fall of about 28% in relation to last year is expected. That means 7.7 million tons, versus 10.7 million tons obtained in 2004.  In the major producing states, Mato Grosso and Paraná, responsible for 60% of all 2nd harvest corn, the harvest is already in progress. Paraná is supposed to harvest 1.6 million tons and  Mato Grosso about 3.0 million tons of corn.

As for corn, a production of 5.2 million tons, 9.6% less than that of last year (5.7 million tons) is expected. This figure is also extremely inferior to the national demand for consumption, which is about 10.5 million tons. In Paraná the expected production is practically the same as that of 2004, different only by 0.68%, a total of 3.0 million tons. The figures for Rio Grande do Sul have fallen by 19% in terms of the production expected this year, representing  1.7 million tons of wheat in this harvest. In both states, climatic conditions are favorable to planting. In the areas of Paraná in which planting started earlier, the harvesting process is already in progress.