Brazil Soy Planting Passes 5-Year Average; Remains Below 2018’s Level

(Agriculture.com) – Brazilian soybean growers have planted 46% of the estimated area in the 2019/2020 crop, which they started sowing around September, below the level of 60% seen last year, agribusiness consultancy AgRural said on Monday, citing scarce rains.

Despite the slower pace of soy planting compared with 2018, soy sowing work is above a five-year average of 43% of the area for this time of the year, AgRural said.

Brazil will collect an estimated record of 121 million tonnes of soybeans this season after increasing the area by 1.3% to 36.4 million hectares (90 million acres), AgRural said.

With 84% of the area planted in Mato Grosso, Brazil’s largest grain state, and increased rainfall in Paraná, where planting has reached 60% of the area, all eyes are now on Mato Grosso do Sul, according to the consultancy.

Although planting advanced well last week to 58% of the area in Mato Grosso do Sul state, that region has received very little rainfall, which forced some farmers to replant, AgRural said.

There is also concern related to planting of Brazil’s second corn crop, which is done after soybeans are harvested, the consultancy said referring to the situation in Mato Grosso do Sul.

If the rains expected for this week are confirmed, the sowing of soybeans in southern Mato Grosso do Sul will end within the first half of November, allowing corn to be planted inside the region’s normal window, which runs until mid-March, AgRural said.

However, farmers would be better off planting their second corn before the end of February, to prevent second corn yields from becoming more susceptible to reduced rainfall and possible frosts from May, AgRural said.