Weather extremes threaten Brazil’s soybean harvest

Weather contrasts in Brazil are creating risks for the upcoming soybean crop and slowing the pace of harvesting. As of mid-February, farmers had harvested about a quarter of the planned area, which is in line with last year’s progress but still below the average pace seen over the past five seasons.

The fastest progress has been recorded in the key producing state of Mato Grosso, where more than half of the planted area has already been harvested. In contrast, the campaign is lagging in several other regions, including Minas Gerais, Paraná, and Mato Grosso do Sul, where only a relatively small share of fields has been collected due to unfavorable weather.

Excessive rainfall in central and northern Brazil continues to disrupt fieldwork, while the southern part of the country is facing heat and moisture shortages. Because of these uneven conditions, analysts have already begun lowering their soybean production forecasts, with estimates for the new crop increasingly slipping below 180 million tons.

Tags: crop forecast, Brazil, soybean, harvesting