Study shows that in Brazil 14/15 coffee crop will be the smallest in 5 years

Brazil will have in season 2014/15 the smallest in coffee crop five years, due to the effect of drought and extremely hot weather early in the year, pointed out on Friday a study released by the National Coffee Council (CNC).
The coffee harvest in Brazil 14/15 will drop to a range from 40,1 millions to 43,3 millions bags of 60 kg against 49.15 million bags in the previous season.
The numbers are confirmed in the study commissioned by the CNC Procafé Foundation, the largest global producer and exporter of coffee would have the smallest crop since 2009, when the country produced 39.47 million bags, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.
"Researchers from Procafé Foundation explained that the effect of drought and high temperatures were more pronounced in the plantations with lower technological level, where the producer used a few inputs, particularly fertilizers, because of the huge prices in the market before the drought," said CNC, which represents producers of coffee in Brazil.
The drought in the country boosted prices earlier this year, with futures contracts in New York to a peak of $ 2.0975 per pound in mid-March, the highest level since February 2012.
On Friday, the commodity closed up 6%, to $ 1.85 per pound, with traders pointing to securely exchange rates in Brazil as a reason of earnings.
The figures compiled by Procafé Foundation also point significant drop compared to the forecast of the National Supply Company (Conab) which had shown a yield between 46.53 million and 50.15 million bags, according to research conducted prior to the occurrence of severe drought.
A survey released by the CNC also showed that coffee production in Minas Gerais, the main producing state of Brazil, will be between 19.77 million and 20.97 million bags.
Dry weather, besides affecting crops, anticipated cycle of the coffee plantations, and harvesting this year will begin a few weeks before the normal period.
A few producers, especially the Robusta variety of coffee, are already reaping the coffee.
The harvest of the year 2015/16 will also be affected by drought this year, said the study.
It is expected that Brazil reap 38,7million-43,6 million bags, similar to what is expected in the 2014/15 season, after the effects of the summer volume.
"For the definition of which end of this range will be achieved in the following season, the water will weigh in post - drought recovery through normal rainfall in March, April and May, in order to favour the recovery of the foliage in late cycle growth, and damaged root system," said CNC.
Researchers at Procafé Foundation reported the CNC in March; some areas have not yet had the normal rainfall regime, verifying total rainfall in the range of 70-100 mm, "insufficient for restoration of water stored in deeper soil volumes."
This situation may directly affect flower induction to harvest 15/16, "already in progress, and, indirectly, the 'fixation' of flowering via defoliation of plants."
Source: Revista Cafeicultura