# ![](media/image1.png){width="0.875in" height="0.6083333333333333in"}United States 

**Department of**

**Agriculture**

Foreign

Agricultural

Service

Circular Series

WAP 04-06

April 2006

**Paraguay Soybean Output Reduced Due to Excessive Heat And Dryness in
January**

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="4.145833333333333in"
height="3.078472222222222in"}Paraguay's 2005/06 soybean crop is
estimated at 4.0 million tons, down 0.5 million from last month and
basically unchanged from last year's drought-affected crop. Harvested
area is unchanged at 2.0 million hectares, and identical to last year.
News reports from Paraguay indicated that early-maturing soybean
varieties were suffering extensive yield losses in January owing to a
month of dry weather and excessively hot temperatures. Daytime high
temperatures were reported in the 40-degree Celsius range, at a time
when early soy varieties would have been in reproductive growth phases.
Paraguayan authorities reported that an unusually large area of the
national crop was sown to early varieties this year in hopes of escaping
a second year of late-season drought. Unfortunately, the hot-dry weather
came early instead. Satellite image-derived vegetative indices clearly
illustrated the intensification of crop stress during December and
January, validating in-country harvest reports that yields had been
seriously affected in the major eastern growing areas of Paraguay.
Fortunately, the country began receiving cooler and wetter weather in
late January, enabling later maturing soy crops to recover to
near-normal levels. *(For more information, contact Michael Shean at
202-720-7366.)*

## Brazil Soybean Crop Estimated Lower 

Brazil's 2005/06 soybean crop is estimated at a record 57.0 million
tons, down 3 percent from last month owing to slightly reduced yields in
Paraná and Mato Grosso do Sul. Harvested soybean area is estimated at a
near-record 22.1 million hectares, down 4 percent from last year.
Soybean yield is estimated at 2.58 tons per hectare, which is very near
the 5-year average. Recent Brazilian government crop surveys have
indicated that sown soybean area in the major producing center-west
states was slightly higher than previously reported. Farmers apparently
reduced crop acreage only marginally this year (3.5 percent) despite
their reported financial difficulties. Given falling international
soybean prices and a strengthening currency since planting, domestic soy
prices in many regions are below the cost of production. The average
farmer's financial situation has considerably worsened as a result, and
the Agriculture Ministry reported it expects significantly reduced
plantings next year. This year's weather pattern during the
soybean-growing season (October 2005 -- March 2006) was generally
benign, with far more favorable precipitation received over the majority
of regions than last year. This led to markedly increased crop yields in
key states such as Rio Grande do Sul and Mato Grosso do Sul, which were
severely affected by drought and high temperatures last season. The
overall effect of timely and well-distributed rains was that national
soybean yields increased by over 13 percent compared to last year. The
soybean harvest was close to 60 percent complete by April 7. *(For more
information, contact Michael Shean at 202-720-7366.)*

**Argentina Corn Area and Production Decreased Due to Adverse Weather**

Argentina's corn production for 2005/06 is forecast at 14.0 million
tons, down 10 percent from last month, and down 32 percent from last
year. Harvested corn area for 2005/06 is forecast at 2.2 million
hectares, down 4 percent from last month and down 21 percent from last
year. Yield is forecast at 6.36 tons per hectare, which is down 6
percent from last month and down 14 percent from last year. As of March
30, harvest progress was 19 percent complete, compared to 38 percent
complete at this time last year. Entre Ríos and Santa Fe provinces,
which are 93 and 43 percent complete, lead harvest progress. Buenos
Aires and Cόrdoba provinces, which account for the majority of corn
area, are only 14 and 7 percent complete, respectively. Harvested area
has been reduced this month based on the Argentine Ministry of
Agriculture's planted area and non-harvestable area estimates for each
delegation. Additionally, FAS crop travel revealed that more planted
area was being cut for silage due to lower than expected yields. Yield
has decreased this month based on results of FAS crop travel and low
early harvest results. Yields are lower than last year because of
unfavorable weather in many parts of Argentina. While corn in parts of
Buenos Aires was damaged because of December frosts, corn in Santa Fe,
Cόrdoba, and northern Buenos Aires provinces was damaged due to severe
dryness and heat during December and January. *(For more information,
contact Nicole Wagner at 202-720-0882.)*

# Pakistan Wheat Crop at a Record High Due to Favorable Weather 

Pakistan\'s 2005/06 wheat output is estimated at a record 21.6 million
tons, up 0.6 million from last month and up 2.1 million from last
season's crop. The area forecast is 8.3 million hectares, unchanged from
last month, but up 1 percent from last season. The wheat crop was sown
during November 2004 and harvested in April 2005. USDA refers to this
crop as part of the 2005/06 marketing year, while in Pakistan it is
accounted for in the 2004/05. The recently released data from Pakistan's
Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Livestock reveals a record production
for the crop harvested in April 2005. The record yield of 2.6 tons per
hectare is 4 percent higher than the previous record set in 2000/01. The
higher yield is attributable to largely positive seasonal conditions,
adequate irrigation water, good management practices and an increased
application of fertilizers and herbicides. The province of Punjab
accounts for the bulk of Pakistan's wheat production, and produces, on
average, about 80 percent of the total crop. (*For more information,
contact Jim Crutchfield at 202-690-0135.*)

# India Rice Production Boosted by Mid-Monsoon 

India\'s 2005/06 rice output is estimated at 87.9 million tons, up 0.9
million from last month and 2.6 million from last season's crop. The
area forecast is 43.4 million hectares, unchanged from last month, but
up 1.1 million from last year. The 2005/06 Kharif, or fall harvested
crop, contributes approximately 86 percent to the total crop, and the
Rabi, or the summer harvested crop, is normally about 14 percent of the
total. A late monsoon arrival delayed sowing operations in some regions;
however, a mid-monsoon season revival allowed sowing to continue later
than normal for the Kharif crop. The top four producing states are West
Bengal (16 percent), Uttar Pradesh (14 percent), Andhra Pradesh (12
percent), and Punjab (10 percent). Increased government rice procurement
supports the higher production figure. Government procurement for
2005/06 (Oct-Sep) was 21.1 million tons through March 20, compared with
19.1 million tons in 2004/05. All major rice-producing states, except
Punjab, have registered higher procurement this year. (*For more
information, contact Jim Crutchfield at 202-690-0135.*)

This report uses information from the Foreign Agricultural Service's
(FAS) global network of agricultural attachés and counselors, official
statistics of foreign governments and other foreign source materials,
and the analysis of economic data and satellite imagery. Estimates of
foreign area, yield, and production are from the Production Estimates
and Crop Assessment Division, FAS, and are reviewed by USDA's
Inter-Agency Commodity Estimates Committee. Estimates of U.S. area,
yield, and production are from USDA's National Agricultural Statistics
Service. Numbers within the report may not add to totals because of
rounding. This report reflects official USDA estimates released in the
World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE-433), Apr. 10,
2006.

**Printed copies are available from the National Technical Information
Service. Download an order form at
http://www.ntis.gov/products/specialty/usda/fas_a-g.asp, or call NTIS at
1-800-363-2068.**

The FAS Production Estimates and Crop Assessment Division prepared this
report. The next issue of World Agricultural Production will be released
after 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, May 12, 2006.

**Conversion Table**

[Metric tons to bushels]{.underline}

> Wheat, soybeans = MT \* 36.7437
>
> Corn, sorghum, rye = MT \* 39.36825
>
> Barley = MT \* 45.929625
>
> Oats = MT \* 68.894438

[Metric tons to 480-lb bales]{.underline}

> Cotton = MT \* 4.592917

[Metric tons to hundredweight]{.underline}

> Rice = MT \* 22.04622

[Area & weight]{.underline}

> 1 hectare = 2.471044 acres
>
> 1 kilogram = 2.204622 pounds

For further information, contact:

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Foreign Agricultural Service

Production Estimates and Crop Assessment Division

Ag Box 1045, Room 6541, South Building

Washington, DC 20250-1045

Telephone: (202) 720-0888 Fax: (202) 720-8880

[GENERAL INFORMATION]{.underline}

Division Director Allen Vandergriff 202-720-0888
vandergriff@fas.usda.gov

Administrative Assistant **(Vacant)**

Deputy Director for Analysis Paul Provance 202-720-0881
provance@fas.usda.gov

Remote Sensing Specialist Brad Doorn 202-690-0131 doorn@fas.usda.gov

Contract Representative Theresa Wright 202-720-8887 wrightt@fas.usda.gov

Imagery Archive Coordinator Bob Tetrault 202-690-0130
tetrault@fas.usda.gov

USDA Remote Sensing Advisor Glenn Bethel 202-720-1280
bethel@fas.usda.gov

Chief of Technology Services Bob Baldwin 202-720-1860
baldwin@fas.usda.gov

Image Processing Specialist Stephen Macugoski 202-720-6237
macugoski@fas.usda.gov

GIS Specialist **(Vacant)**

[COMMODITY-SPECIFIC INFORMATION]{.underline}

Grains Chairperson Michelle Greenberg 202-720-7339
greenberg@fas.usda.gov

Oilseeds Chairperson **(Vacant)**

Rice & Cotton Chairperson **(Vacant)**

Management Analyst Mary Jackson 202-720-0888 jacksonma@fas.usda.gov

[COUNTRY- AND REGION-SPECIFIC INFORMATION]{.underline}

Brazil, Paraguay, & Venezuela Michael Shean 202-720-7366
shean@fas.usda.gov

Canada & Argentina Nicole Wagner 202-720-0882 nicole.c.wagner@usda.gov

European Union, the Balkans, Bryan Purcell 202-690-0138
purcellb@fas.usda.gov

& North Africa

Russia, Ukraine, & Central Asia Mark Lindeman 202-690-0143
lindeman@fas.usda.gov

China, Koreas, Japan, Paulette Sandene 202-690-0133
<sandene@fas.usda.gov>

& Southeast Asia

Australia, Bangladesh, India, Jim Crutchfield 202-690-0135
crutchfield@fas.usda.gov

& Pakistan

Southern Africa & West Africa Curt Reynolds 202-690-0134
reynoldsc@fas.usda.gov

Western United States Carl Gernazio 202-690-0136 gernazio@fas.usda.gov

Eastern United States **(Vacant**)

Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, & Iraq **(Vacant)**

Mexico, Central America, **(Vacant)**

& Caribbean