Oct 21, 2021

Weather is Good for Planting of Brazil's First Corn Crop

Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.

Last week was a good week for planting the first corn crop in southern Brazil. The first corn crop in Brazil was 56.6% planted as of the end of last week comparted to 42.8% last year and 43.6% average according to the consulting firm DATAGRO. This represents an advance of 15.5% for the week. A few fields may need to be replanted due to excessive moisture, but things look positive in general.

Farmers in the state of Parana had planted 88% of their first corn crop as of earlier this week according to the Department of Rural Economics (Deral). The corn is 12% germinating and 88% in vegetative development and the condition of the corn is rated 4% average and 96% good. Deral is estimating that the first corn crop will yield 166 sacks per hectare (158 bu/ac) and the production will be 4.1 million tons.

In the state of Rio Grande do Sul, 65% of the corn has been planted and germination and emergence has generally been good.

The other large first corn crop producing state in Brazil is Minas Gerais and the corn planting in that state is getting underway.

The first corn crop in Brazil represents approximately one quarter of Brazil's total corn production and the first corn crop is used almost entirely by the livestock industry in southern Brazil. The second crop of corn known as the safrinha, is planted after soybeans are harvested and it represents approximately three quarters of Brazil's total corn production. Much of the safrinha corn production is exported.