BRAZIL (31 May)
Harvesting of 2005 first maize crop is virtually completed in Centre-South states and output is officially forecast at 28 million tonnes, 10 percent below the 31.1 million tonnes obtained the previous year. This result is essentially due to dry weather conditions during the first months of this year that affected the maize crop yields, especially in the main producing states of Parana and Rio Grande do Sul where 2005 first season maize crop output is expected to decline about 7 and 38 percent respectively compared to 2004. Reduced rainfall in west Parana and south Mato Grosso do Sul has also affected area planted and yields of the second “safrinha” maize crop that is being harvested and production is estimated at 8.3 million tonnes, about 18 percent below last year output. Official forecast for the 2005 aggregate maize crop production have been recently downward revised pointing slightly above 36 million tonnes, about 13 percent less than the 2004 crop. Planting of winter wheat crop has been virtually completed in the central and southern states where recent heavy showers have improved soil moisture for proper germination, while it is still underway in Rio Grande do Sul where wheat crop planting takes place after the harvest of soybean crop. Wheat planted area is early forecast at 2.6 million hectares, about 6 percent below previous year. Harvesting of paddy crop has been virtually completed and paddy production is expected to be record, slightly above 13 million tonnes, as a consequence of the increased area in South-East and Centre-West areas that counterbalanced the reduced yields in the main producing state of Rio Grande do Sul that was significantly affected by drought.