Soybean planting in Brazil has surpassed 70 percent and is now slightly ahead of average.

But the latest update from ag consulting firm AgRural says the crop is off to a very slow start in some key production areas because of continued dry conditions. The report says while it is still too early to talk about yield losses, many fields are being replanted due to germination problems.

According to Illinois-based advisory firm AgriVisor, South American weather forecasts indicate dry conditions will likely persist into the end of the month.

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