Feb 01, 2024
State of Rio Grande do Sul in Southern Brazil Needs Rain
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
In the municipality of Sao Valerio do Sul in northwestern Rio Grande do Sul, the soybean crop was planted more than two weeks later than normal due to excess rainfall. The crop developed normally until recently when the weather turned dryer. The soybeans that are currently filling pods are expected to yield approximately 60 sacks per hectare (53.6 bu/ac), but the crop will need a good volume of rain within the next one to two weeks to avoid potential yield losses.
Rio Grande do Sul is usually the third largest soybean producing state in Brazil after the states of Mato Grosso and Parana. The northwest region of the state has been drying for over two weeks and the forecast is calling for hot and dry conditions for at least another week.
This is a complete reversal from earlier in the growing season when the state received persistent heavy rainfall during the months of September, October, and November. Rio Grande do Sul is usually one of the last states in Brazil to plant soybeans because the soybeans are planted after wheat is harvested, but this year, planting was even later than normal due to the saturated conditions.
Another concern for farmers is the increased occurrences of soybean rust. The state has confirmed 88 cases of rust which is 35% of the total cases in Brazil. Farmers are being advised to reduce the time interval between fungicide applications and to alternate the fungicide used. The state with the most cases in Parana with 122 or 49% of the total.