Minister of Agriculture announces today new harvest estimate

25/02/2002 - 19h31

São Paulo, 26 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The Ministry of Agriculute's third estimate of this year's harvest will be announced today by minister Pratini de Moraes who has already declared that the "numbers will correspond to our expectations," taking into consideration the drought in Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, which has been detrimental to corn. The minister did say that expectations are that the soybean harvest will rise by 11% to 12%, compared to last year. (AB)