3/2/05 SAO PAULO (Dow Jones)--Brazilian soybean production will total 63.3million metric tons in the 2004-05 season (October-September), up 28% onthe previous season, said the local Agroconsult agricultural consultancy.

"The current climate conditions are favorable in most of thegrain-producing regions," said the consultants.

Last year's crop was cut substantially by excessive rain in thecenter-west, dry weather in the south and attacks of the Asian rustdisease.

The forecast is higher than the 61.4 million tons forecast by theAgriculture Ministry in December but lower than the 64.5 million tonsforecast by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.