Sep 01, 2023
Mato Grosso May Start Planting Soybeans Today - September 1st
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
Planting of the 2023/24 soybean crop in the state of Mato Grosso in center-west Brazil is allowed to start as of today, September 1, 2023. This is two weeks earlier than what had been allowed for many years when the start date was September 16th.
The earlier date this year was the result of the Cotton Producers Association of Mato Grosso (Ampa) petitioning the Brazilian Minister of Agriculture for an earlier date so they would have more time to plant a second crop of cotton after the soybeans are harvested. The Minister granted the petition over the objections of the Soybean and Corn Producers Association of Mato Grosso (Aprosoja/MT) and scientists who contend that an early start to planting increases the risk of soybean rust disease moving into the state's soybean fields earlier than normal.
This alteration of the date for Mato Grosso scrambles the start dates for soybean planting in Brazil. Below are the planting start dates for some of the major soybean producing states in Brazil.
| Mato Grosso | September 1, 2023 |
| Parana | September 11, 2023 |
| Mato Grosso do Sul | September 16, 2023 |
| Sao Paulo | September 16, 2023 |
| Santa Catarina | September 21, 2023 |
| Goias | September 25, 2023 |
| Rio Grande do Sul | October 1, 2023 |
| Minas Gerais | October 1, 2023 |
| Bahia | October 1, 2023 |
In the states that border Mato Grosso such as Mato Grosso do Sul and Goias, farmers are being warned not to be confused and to adhere to their state's regulations. In Mato Grosso do Sul, the start date is more than two weeks later than Mato Grosso and in Goias, it is more than three weeks later than Mato Grosso.
The earlier planting date in Mato Grosso has the potential for increasing the number of fungicide applications to adequately control soybean rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi). It also increases the risk of the disease developing resistance to fungicides.
As far as soybean marketing is concerned, earlier planting means earlier harvesting as well. It is possible that the soybean harvest in Mato Grosso may start as early as mid-December and soybeans may start flowing to Brazilian ports by mid-January.
The earlier planting date for Mato Grosso caught people by surprise and it is too late to be challenged this growing season, but that date will likely be challenged before the 2024/25 growing season.