Dec 28, 2023
Soybean Harvest Underway in Western Parana, Yields are Promising
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
Soybean producers in the state of Parana in southern Brazil have been fortunate this growing season. They have not encountered the hot and dry conditions that has impacted central and northeastern Brazin nor the saturated and localized flooding conditions in the states further south.
In the municipality of Palotina in western Parana, ample rainfall in September allowed for an early start to planting and above normal temperatures in October and November shortened the soybean growth cycle. This has allowed for an early start to harvest with a few soybean fields harvested before Christmas. The harvest pace will pick up this week and next week in fields where desiccants have been applied.
Desiccants are used to speed up the drydown of pods and stems. Once a desiccant is applied, the soybeans should be ready for harvest in 7 to 10 days.
Farmers are encouraged by the early yield results. According to the president of the Rural Union of Palotina/PR, yields of the soybeans harvested before Christmas were in the range of 45 to 50 sacks per hectare (40 to 45 bu/ac). The soybeans that will be harvested next week are expected to yield 60 to 65 sacks per hectare (53.6 to 58 bu/ac). Soybeans that will be harvested at the end of January are expected to yield 70 sacks per hectare of more (62.5 bu/ac).
Most of the early harvested soybeans will be followed by a second crop of corn and since the soybean harvest started earlier than normal this year, the safrinha corn should be planted within the ideal planting window which closes about the third week of February.