Soybean Harvest and Safrinha Corn Planting Slow in Parana

Wet weather continues to slow the soybean harvest progress in the state of Parana in southern Brazil. Farmers in Parana had harvested 17% of their 2022/23 soybeans as of earlier this week compared to 42% in 2020 and 50% in 2019 according to the Department of Rural Economics (Deral). This represents an advance of 10% for the week. The harvest is especially slow in the west-central part of the state.

As farmers finish harvesting their soybeans, many plant a second crop of corn. The safrinha corn planting was 26% earlier this week compared to 12% last week. Safrinha corn was 28% planted in 2021, 61% in 2020, and 73% in 2019. The ideal planting window generally closes about the end of February, but planting continues into March in the northern part of the state.

Deral reported that 55% of the safrinha corn was germinating and 45% was in vegetative development. The safrinha corn is rated 1% poor and 99% good. The consulting firm AgRural estimates that more than 50% of the safrinha corn in the states of Parana and Mato Grosso do Sul will be planted after the ideal planting window has closed, which is generally the end of February. If the safrinha corn is planted after February, there is a increased risk of frost before the corn has a chance to mature.

Parana has two crops of corn and first corn crop was 26% harvested as of earlier this week with 2% pollinating, 35% filling grain, and 62% maturing. The first corn crop is rated 1% poor, 16% average, and 83% good. There are reports that farmers are harvesting their corn at high moisture so they can plant their safrinha corn as soon as possible.

Tags: weather, soybeans, safrinha corn, first corn crop, harvest, planting, Brazil