1.   As many as four cargoes of Brazilian soybeans are headed to the U.S., traders said.

2.   A Cargill spokeswoman said the Minneapolis-based company contracted to buy Brazilian soybeans for use in its southeastern U.S. plants, where shortages are acute.

3.   A drop in Brazilian soybean shipments would add further pressure to U.S. supplies.

4.   A surge in unprocessed Brazilian soybean exports could lead soybean crushing plants in the South American nation to close, analysts said.

5.   A spokesman for Tyson Foods Inc. said several U.S. processors informed the company this week that they will buy Brazilian soybeans to make livestock feed.

6.   Brazilian soybean producers say that there is room in the international market for everyone.

7.   Bunge already owned a controlling stake in Brazilian soybean processor Santista Alimentos SA.

8.   But the market still was under pressure from impending Brazilian soybean shipments.

9.   Cargill Inc. is importing less costly Brazilian soybeans to keep its plants operating in the southeast, where supplies are short.

10.   During that time, the Brazilian soybean crop will bloom into flowers that later set into pods for bean development, the most important indicator of soybean production.