Sep 28, 2021
2020/21 Brazil Soybeans 1.3% Planted
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
Brazilian farmers were allowed to start planting soybeans the week of September 12-18 and as of late last week, 1.3% of the soybeans had been planted compared to 0.7% last year according to Ag Rural. Most of Brazil's farmers are still waiting for improved soil moisture before they will risk planting their 2021/22 soybeans. The farmers who are most aggressively planting their soybeans are those who plan on planting a second crop of cotton, which should be planted before the end of January.
Mato Grosso - Farmers in Mato Grosso had planted 1.2% of their soybeans as of late last week compared to 0.75% last year and 0.88% average according to the Mato Grosso Institute of Agricultural Economics (Imea). The most rapid planting progress was in the western part of the state where 2.5% of the soybeans have been planted.
Municipality of Tapurah - In the municipality of Tapurah in central Mato Grosso, localized storms last Thursday night resulted in 3-4 inches of rainfall. This is enough rainfall for farmers to start planting their 2021/22 soybeans which they did over the weekend. This contrasts with last year when no soybeans were planted in the municipality during September.
Farmers in Tapurah should be able to start harvesting soybeans before the end of December, allowing ample time for a second crop of cotton or corn. Farmers who have forward contracted their soybeans are pleased with prices in the range of R$ 140 per sack (approximately $12.25 per bushel).
Below is the soybean planting progress in Mato Grosso from Imea. The red line is this year's progress, the dark line is last year's progress, and the dotted line is the five-year average. The green area is the maximum and minimum for the last five years.
Parana - In the state of Parana, farmers have planted 3% of their intended 2021/22 soybeans as of earlier this week compared to 1% last year and 5% average according to the Department of Rural Economics (Deral). Most of the soybeans planted thus far have been in the southern part of the state where the rainfall has been better.
Deral estimates that farmers in the state have forward contracted only 5% of their anticipated 2021/22 soybean production compared to 40% last year at this time. Farmers are more cautious this year with their forward contracting since they sold too much too early last year and missed out on a nearly doubling of soybean prices.
Rio Grande do Sul - Emater is reporting that only a few fields of soybeans have been planted as farmers prepare their fields and wait for adequate soil moisture to ensure germination and stand establishment.
Sao Paulo - Farmers in a few areas of the state have started to plant their soybeans while most farmers are waiting for improved soil moisture. The president of Aprosoja/SP is expecting the soybean acreage in the state to increase 5-8% and reach 1.3 million hectares. If the weather cooperates, he is expecting a statewide soybean yield of 60 sacks per hectare (53.6 bu/ac). Farmers in the state have not forward contracted as much of their anticipated production as last year in anticipation of improved yields going forward