Brazil’s Safrinha Corn Planting Slowed by Wet Weather

Brazil’s 2022/23 safrinha corn was 12% planted as of late last week compared to 24% last year according to AgRural. This represents an advance of 7% for the week. The planting continues to be slowed by wet weather especially in central Brazil. The slow planting pace is a concern because the ideal planting window will close in about two weeks and there will be more safrinha corn planted after the ideal window closes than what had originally been expected. Farmers will probably plant safrinha corn past the ideal window due to the strong corn price, but if it gets too late, some farmers may opt for grain sorghum in central Brazil and winter wheat in southern Brazil.

The safrinha corn represents about three-quarters of Brazil’s total corn production and the safrinha corn yields are sensitive to the planting date. If the corn is planted too late, the crop may run out of moisture before it has a chance to mature. Additionally, the longer-range forecast from the Brazilian National Weather Service is calling for below normal rainfall in central Brazil during March and April, just as some of the earlier planted corn will be starting to pollinate in late April.

Conab will issue their first assessment of the 2022/23 Brazil safrinha corn crop on Wednesday, February 8th.

Mato Grosso – The safrinha corn in Mato Grosso was 16.4% planted as of late last week compared to 42% last year and 31.5% average. This represents an advance of 10% for the week. The planting is most advanced in the mid-north and western part of the state where 19% of the corn has been planted. The graph below from the Mato Grosso Institute of Agricultural Economics (Imea) shows the 2022/23 safrinha corn planting progress in Mato Grosso (red line).

Parana – The safrinha corn in Parana was 3% planted as of earlier last week and the planting continues to be slow due to the slow harvest of the soybeans which are about 1-2% harvested.

Tags: Production, yields, crop, safrinha corn, planting, Brazil, weather