Crop condition was, in general, above average in Brazil during thereporting period. Winter wheat has reached maturity and harvesting will be concluded by the end of the year. The sowing of soybean started at the end ofOctober. In most of central-south Brazil, rice and maize are also at planting stage. In southern Brazil winter wheat benefited from favorableagroclimatic conditions from heading to maturity stage. Rainfall was 325 mm from July to October (24% above average), providing sufficient rainfall forwheat grain-filling and good soil moisture for soybean and maize. Warmstemperature and average radiation was also beneficial for winter wheat.However, the continuous rainfall was unfavorable for the harvesting and dryingof wheat after maturity especially in Mato Grosso do Sul, Parana, and Sao Paulowhere rainfall was double the average. Heavy rainfall also hampered the sowingof maize and soybean. According to Safras and Mercado, soybean plantingprogress reached 56% by November 13 against the historical average of 68%.

Spatial patterns and NDVI departure profiles compared to the five-year average indicate the above average conditions in southern Brazil except fornorth-western Rio Grande do Sul. Comparing the peak NDVI to the recent fiveyears, the crop condition in central Parana and eastern Rio Grande do Sulexceeded five year's maximum. Cropped arable land fraction at national scale isestimated at 92%, 10 percentage point above average. Cropping intensity for2015 is 183% (or 4% above the previous five years average). Winter wheat production is revised at 6.9 million tons using the most updated data, about 3%above previous forecast. Table B.3 in Annex B presents the estimated productionoutputs for 2015. 

Figure3.8. Brazil crop condition, July-October 2015