Rainfall has been steady if not particularly heavy in most of Brazil's soy-growing areas, private weather forecaster Somar said Friday, boosting soil moisture during the crop's development. Total rainfall has been well below average for December at between 9 and 62 percent below what is normal, but a cold front over the country will keep showers coming until the end of the month, Somar said in a daily soy weather bulletin.
"The passing of a cold front is causing rains in much of Brazil, however, the biggest amounts will be concentrated in the center-west, southeast and north until the first of January," Somar said. Dry weather had been a concern until around a fortnight ago but showers arrived in time to avoid any significant harm.
Analysts said the drier weather would help plants develop strong root systems, which would help them endure future dry spells later in the season as they can draw moisture from deeper in the ground. To see Somar's rainfall totals for December and forecasts for Brazil's soy belt click on the link. Planting is nearly finished all over the country. Producers in some parts of Mato Grosso, Brazil's leading soybean state, will likely start harvesting the crop in the next few weeks.