Feb 07, 2022

Paraguay to Produce Only Half of Expected 2021/22 Soybean Crop

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

Paraguay was expected to produce at least 10 million tons of soybeans in 2021/22, but hot and dry conditions during the critical reproductive phase cut that expectation in half.

Paraguay has endured the worst weather this growing season of the major soybean producing countries in South America. Long stretches of temperatures over 40°C (104°F) accompanied by a lack of rainfall resulted in extremely poor yields. The soybeans in southeastern Paraguay are approaching 70% harvested and any rain at this point would not help the early planted soybeans.

Farmers in Paraguay are expected to plant 500-600,000 hectares (1.2-1.4 million acres) of safrinha soybeans and 850-900,000 hectares (2.0-2.2 million acres) of safrinha corn after the soybeans are harvested. Approximately 20% of Paraguay's soybeans generally come from the safrinha crop. Rainfall from this point forward would help to establish the safrinha crops. Both the safrinha soybeans and safrinha corn will be harvested in mid-2022.