Uruguayan Soy Slightly On The Rise

Avatar for Matt Hopkins By Scott C. Lucas|27 April 2006

Uruguay is expected to add 20,000 hectares (Ha) to its soya production in 2006/07 over last year, with an increase in production of around 30,000 metric tons (MT). The growth comes despite uneven weather patterns and dryness, according to the US Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agriculture Service (USDA-FAS).

With three straight years of low rainfall levels and soil moisture in some areas of the country, signs of improvement are starting to show. The first crop of soybeans, normally planted around the beginning of October, are not suffering as much yield reduction as the second crop, which were planted in December and January.

While international prices have dropped over the past few months, growers are expanding production where possible in hopes of a return to average prices.