Brasília, 2/18/2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Minister of Agriculture, Roberto Rodrigues, reports that Brazil's soybean harvest, formerly estimated at 60 million tons, will probably total 56 million tons due to the effects of pests and rains. The pest is known as the Asian rust and it is difficult to treat under any circumstances. In rainy weather, it is even harder to deal with and Brazil has been having almost constant rains in most of the country since the beginning of December.

According to Rodrigues, the size of Brazil's harvest, along with the harvest in Argentina, where there are problems with drought in some areas, will affect international soybean prices. The ministry is monitoring the situation closely, says the minister. (AB)