Feb 14, 2022
Mato Grosso Soybeans 60% Harvested, Safrinha Corn 57% Planted
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
In Conab's February Crop Report, they lowered Brazil's 2021/22 soybean production by a stunning 12.5 million tons to 125.5 million. In the report, they signaled out Brazil's four southernmost states of Parana, Mato Grosso do Sul, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul as to why they lowered the soybean estimate. Hot and dry weather in southern Brazil while the crop as it was setting pods and filling pods resulted in very poor yields.
In contrast, they increased their production estimates for states in central Brazil including the biggest soybean producing state of Mato Grosso.
The soybeans in Mato Grosso were 60% harvested as of late last week compared to 22% last year and 48% average according to the Institute of Agricultural Economics (Imea). This represents an advance of 14 points for the week. The area where the harvest is most advanced is in the western part of the state where 75% of the soybeans have been harvested. The slowest harvest pace is in the center-south where 33% of the soybeans have been harvested.
Yields in Mato Grosso continue to be variable. Imea recently estimated the statewide soybean yield at 60.2 sacks per hectare (53.8 bu/ac), which is 4.9% higher than last year, but probably less than what many producers had been hoping for. Many farmers attribute the lower-than-expected yields to heavy overcast skies and a lack of sunshine during November, December, and early January.
The soybean acreage in the state is up 4.3% compared to last year to 10.92 million hectares (26.9 million acres) and Imea is estimating the total soybean production in the state at 39.48 million tons.
Conab is estimating the soybean production in Mato Grosso at 38.96 million tons which means that if Brazil produces 125.5 million tons of soybeans, Mato Grosso would account for 31% of Brazil's total soybean production.
Farmers in Mato Grosso had planted 57% of their safrinha corn as of late last week compared to 21% last year and 46% average. This represents an advance of 15 points for the week.