LatinNews Daily - 10 October 2023

* Brazilian agribusiness consultancy AgRural has reported the progress of the sowing of the 2023/24 soya and maize harvests. Local news agency Agência Estado Broadcast cited the consultancy’s latest figures as showing that planting has reached 10.1% of total expected cultivation area for the current soya harvest cycle. At the same point last year, it was reported that only 9.6% of the 2022/23 harvest’s cultivation area had been planted. However, the current pace of soya planting is still behind the 10.7% rate registered during this period for the 2016/17 harvest – the fastest planting pace on record. AgRural’s data reportedly showed that the southern state of Paraná has sowed the greatest cultivation area of soya so far. The planting of the 2023/24 maize harvest has also been progressing at a quick pace, with Brazil’s three southern states (Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul) “approaching the final stage”, although the heavy rains and “greater pressure from maize leafhoppers” (insects which are major vectors of maize streak virus) have reportedly been a cause of concern for maize producers in the south.