SLC Agricola, one of Brazil’s biggest farm operators with 344,000 hectares, has cut production estimates for soybean and first-crop corn because of drought in the country’s north eastern states of Bahia and Piaui and the central state of Goias. The group cut soybean yields by 0.15 tons per hectares to 3.09 tons per hectare. Taking into account that the company planted soybeans on 185,000 hectares, the total loss in production could equal 25,000 tons. The group also cut yield estimates for its first corn crop by 1.63 tons per hectare to 9.15 tons per hectare which it planted on 13,600 hectares. However, its second-crop corn planted in states such as Mato Grosso which received more rainfall should have a higher yield potential of 6.54 tons per hectare. Brazil’s official crop bureau, Conb, cut its estimate for second–crop corn by 200,000 tons to 43.7 million tons for 2013/14 mostly based on a decrease in planting which fell 130,000 hectares as farmers switched from corn to other more profitable crops. For soybean production, Conab lifted its forecast by 500,000 tons to 86.6 million tons on better yield predicted for southern states such as Parana and Rio Grande do Sul.
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