Brazil sows soybeans, corn at fast pace amid dry weather concerns: Agrural

Brazilian soybean planting continued to advance at a fast pace in the week ending November 11, reaching 78% of the estimated area, while dry weather conditions raised concerns for both soybean and summer corn crops in the south, local consultancy Agrural said Monday.

Soybean planting for 2021/22 advanced by eleven percentage points on the week, landing eight points above year-ago levels.

“Works are virtually concluded in regions with an earlier planting schedule,” Agrural said, adding that soybean sowing is now concentrated in Rio Grande do Sul and in the northeastern Matopiba region.

According to the local consultancy, in Rio Grande do Sul, “dry weather conditions continue to concern farmers” while in the Matopiba region “works have advanced well despite excess moisture conditions in some areas.”

Agrural warned however that while sowing continues to progress in Rio Grande do Sul, the state’s soybean crop may face quality issues if it does not rain soon.

“That said, farmer’s biggest worries are related to the summer corn crop as areas that have been planted earlier are already showing signs of hydric stress and need rains to avoid yield losses,” Agrural said.

Meanwhile, summer corn planting in the centre-south of Brazil jumped ten percentage points on the week to 85% of the estimated area as of November 11, which marked a year-on-year increase of three points.

Other states in the south and southeast have also been experiencing lower rainfall volumes over the last few weeks, but the situation is not as delicate as in Rio Grande do Sul, given that summer corn planting started later in the former and grains are not yet at a critical development stage.