Nov 27, 2024
2024/25 Brazil Soybeans 83% Planted vs. 74% Last Year
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
Rainfall last week favored central Brazil once again with lighter amounts in southern Brazil. The areas that could use additional rainfall include western Parana, southern Mato Grosso do Sul, western Rio Grande do Sul, and parts of southwestern Sao Paulo. It is not an immediate concern today, but they will need additional rainfall in the future and there is rain in the forecast.
Rainfall this week will favor northern and southern growing areas with improvement expected in Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul. Widespread rainfall is expected across most of Brazil in the 6-10 day period with lighter amounts in northeastern Brazil.
After a slow start, soybean planting in Brazil is ending up ahead of average in many areas. The crop is rated in good condition with improving soil moisture. A few areas such as western Parana, southern Mato Grosso do Sul, and western Rio Grande do Sul could use additional moisture and fortunately there is rain forecasted for those areas. Therefore, the 2024/25 Brazil soybean estimate was increased 2.0 million tons this week to 168.0 million.
Soybeans in Brazil were 83.2% planted as of late last week compared to 74.6% last year and 86.9% average according to Patria Agronegocios. This represents an advance of 3.2% for the week. AgRural reported the crop at 86% planted. The main areas left to plant is the state of Rio Grande do Sul in far southern Brazil and the states in northeastern Brazil. Both areas are traditionally the last areas in Brazil to plant soybeans.
Mato Grosso - Soybean planting is essentially complete in Mato Grosso at 99.8%. In the municipality of Sinop in northern Mato Grosso, soybean planting was concentrated during the second half of October which means the harvest will be concentrated at the start of February. Late January and early February can be the peak of the rainy season in Mato Grosso and farmers are already worried about the potential of wet weather at harvest. If the weather cooperates with the soybean harvest, farmers should be able to plant their safrinha corn within the ideal planting window.
Parana - According to the Department of Rural Economics (Deral), soybeans in Parana are 96% planted, 5% germinating, 65% in vegetative development, 25% flowering, 5% setting pods, and the crop is rated 1% average and 99% good.
In the municipality of Assis Chateaubriand in western Parana, soybean planting occurred during the ideal planting window and the rainfall thus far has been adequate for crop development. If the weather continues to cooperate, farmers are expecting good yields. The cost of production is down this year and soybean prices are higher, so farmers are expecting higher profit margins compared to the last two years.
The soybean harvest will be concentrated between the end of January and the first half of February, which can be a very wet period. If the soybean harvest proceeds normally, safrinha corn planting will occur within the ideal planting window, which should lower the risk of frost before the corn matures.
Rio Grande do Sul - Soybean planting in the state is 50% and progress is being dictated by the level of soil moisture. Planting has been suspended in western areas of the state where the soil moisture is short, whereas, in areas that received light rain, planting has continued. Emater is estimating that the state will plant 6.81 million hectares (16.82 million acres) with an average yield of 3,179 kg/ha (47.3 bu/ac).