Brazil soy harvest tops 5y average to 48%, but lags 2017: AgRural

The harvest progression of Brazilian soy hit 48% for the week ending March 8, up 13 percentage points from the previous week and above the five-year average, although progress continues to lag to last year, consultants AgRural said late Friday.

Progression at this point of last year stood at 56%, while the five-year average for this time of the year is 46%.

The harvest is completed in western Paraná and in the north and west of Mato Grosso, but progression for the entire region of Mato Grosso do Sul stands at 69%.

Progression in Sao Paulo and Parana are leading at 57% and 49%.

Harvest progression in Santa Catarina is lagging as plantings were delayed at the start of the season and currently stand at a mere 12%.

 “In Rio Grande do Sul, the harvesters are already in the field in some parts of the state, but the harvested area has not yet reached 1%,” the consultants said in their weekly report.

Matopiba will see above-average rainfall making it difficult to harvest in the next few days, and the estimated production volumes have already fallen compared to the initial forecasts.

Second corn crop

Plantings of the second corn crop were aided by good progression of the soy harvest and good weather conditions, with plantings now reaching 81% in the centre-south, up from 63% the week before and in line with the five-year average.

Overall progression is behind last year when plantings were at 88%, while plantings in Mato Grosso are ahead and stand at 95%.

“The decrease in rainfall over the last two weeks in the producing states is worrisome, but for now the lack of moisture in the plantations is punctual and still does not threaten the productive potential,” the consultancy said.

Plantings progressed in São Paulo to 89%, in Goiás to 76% and Mato Grosso do Sul to 55%.

First corn crop

The harvest of the first corn crop reached 28% in the centre-south region, slightly up from 24% the week before but lagging last year’s progress of 36% and still well short of the five-year average of 37%.

Harvest in the regions of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul are both ahead and currently stand at 59% and 57%, respectively.