Apr 01, 2022

Mato Grosso 2021/22 Safrinha Corn Yield Estimated at 102.3 bu/ac

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

The safrinha corn planting was mostly complete in Mato Grosso by early March, which was much ahead of last year when the soybean harvest was delayed. The Mato Grosso Institute of Agricultural Economics (Imea) estimates that approximately 93% of the corn was planted during the ideal planting window and into good conditions. Early planting is essential for the corn to mature before the onset of the dry season in early May. Mato Grosso is Brazil's largest safrinha corn producing state.

Brazilian scientists use remote sensing to determine the Vegetation Health Index of crops in order to estimate plant health, plant nutrition, moisture deficits, etc. The most recent Vegetation Health Index for the safrinha corn in Mato Grosso indicated that the crop health is similar to the same period in 2018/19 and 2019/20. In 2018/19 the safrinha corn yield in the state was 110.9 sacks per hectare (105.7 bu/ac) and in 2019/20 it was 109.2 sacks per hectare (104.1 bu/ac).

According to the consulting firm TempoCampo, the current Vegetation Health Index indicates a safrinha corn yield in Mato Grosso of 107.3 sacks per hectare (102.3 bu/ac).

Conab is currently estimating Brazil's 2021/22 safrinha corn production at 86.2 million tons compared to 60.7 million tons last year. The first crop corn is estimated at 24.3 million tons, which would put the total Brazilian 2021/22 corn production at just over 112 million tons compared to 87 million tons last year.