Apr 20, 2023
Cold Weather in Southern Brazil Worries Safrinha Corn Producers
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
An early cold snap has farmers in southern Brazil worried about their late planted safrinha corn. On Friday of this week, temperatures are forecasted to fall to the freezing mark across regions of southern Brazil. The potential freezing temperatures this week are forecasted to be limited to the higher elevations of southern Brazil, but farmers are worried it might be a precursor of things to come.
Metrologists in Brazil indicate that cold temperatures are forecasted to settle into southern Brazil by the end of May and early June, which would be earlier than normal. If the forecast verifies, it could impact the safrinha corn at a vulnerable point in its development.
In the municipality of Amambai in southern Mato Grosso do Sul, the ideal planting window for safrinha corn generally closes by March 10th, but some farmers did not get all their safrinha corn planted until late March or early April. The delay was caused by cold temperatures last November that slowed the development of the soybean crop and then wet weather in February that delayed the soybean harvest.
Corn planted in southern Mato Grosso do Sul on April 1st for example, would generally be pollinating on June 1st, so any frost before the end of June could negatively impact the safrinha corn, which accounts for approximately 75% of Brazil's total corn production.