Nov 04, 2021
Farmers in Bahia, Brazil Starting to Plant Their 2021/22 Cotton
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
Summer rains have started to fall in the state of Bahia in northeastern Brazil which is encouraging farmers in the state to start planting their 2021/22 cotton crop. The Cotton Producers Association of Bahia (Abapa) estimates that the cotton acreage in the state will increase 9% in 2021/22 to 266,662 hectares (658,650 acres). Domestic cotton prices in Brazil are good and the demand for cotton is high.
In the southwestern region of the state, farmers were allowed to start planting their cotton on November 1st and planting is expected to be completed by February 10th. This is a small production area with only about 6,000 hectares of cotton.
Most of the state's cotton is grown in the cerrado region of western Bahia where farmers will start planting their cotton approximately November 21st and the planting should be complete by February 10th. This region of the state should plant about 260,000 hectares of cotton.
The state of Bahia produces about one-third of Brazil's cotton and the cotton in Bahia competes with soybeans and corn for acreage. The largest cotton producing state is Mato Grosso where most of the cotton is produced as a second crop following soybeans. Cotton in Mato Grosso competes with safrinha corn for acreage.
The soybeans in Mato Grosso are being planted early this year which should allow for plenty of time to plant the cotton during the ideal planting window which closes about the end of January. The one thing that could delay the cotton planting in Mato Grosso would be excessive rains during January that might delay the soybean harvesting.