South Brazil soya to stay dry

Brazil's southernmost soya state Rio Grande do Sul should be dry for the rest of the year, forecaster Somar said Tuesday, with rainfall in December far below the average, threatening the newly-seeded crop with no rain on the horizon.
The center west and south-east, including Brazil's No 1 soya state Mato Grosso, will see plentiful rain from now through early January, helping plants mostly at a later stage of development. Mato Grosso harvesting should begin within days.
No 3 state Rio Grande do Sul will be less lucky as the characteristics of a weak La Nina weather anomaly play out, keeping the area dry while other areas enjoy abundant showers.
Until this late stage in December, cumulative rainfall in Rio Grande do Sul was 70-76 percent less than usual. Most other regions have also been much drier than usual though rains have begun to pick up in many. At worst, growers in Rio Grande do Sul may have to resow if seedlings wither for lack of moisture.