The following content was provided by meteorologist Gail Martell of MartellCropProjections.com:
Favorable Weather Accelerates Brazil Soybean Planting
Brazil soybean planting is progressing rapidly with favorable field moisture. After a slow start, Brazilian soybean planting picked up the pace over the last three weeks with increased rainfall. Nearly half the 2013-14 crop has now been sown 48% according to AgRural the farm consultancy.
Producers in Mato Grosso have planted 81% of soybeans up to November 1. This was well ahead of normal. Increased rainfall in late October spurred sowing. The rapid planting pace was also due to a large investment in farm equipment, Ag Rural has claimed. Mato Grosso is Brazil’s largest soybean state accounting for 31% of Brazil production.
Fast planting of soybeans is very beneficial, promoting an earlier harvest and allowing corn, produced as a second crop, to be planted on time in February. Mato Grosso is Brazil’s largest producer of corn, grown in rotation with soybeans as a winter crop.
Parana soybean planting was 63% complete November 1, slightly ahead of last year’s 58%. The western state’s soybeans were said to have ideal growing conditions. Planting began 6 weeks ago, so that the earliest soybeans were already beginning to flower, Ag Rural said. Parana is the second leading soybean state making up 16-17% of the Brazil crop.
Rainfall has been favorable in most of Brazil’s main soybean growing areas with generous field moisture.
Soybean planting was delayed in Rio Grande do Sul because of wet field conditions from episodic flooding. Only 8% of soybeans had been sown November 1. Slow planting rates are not a threat to yields, as the subtropical climate extends the growing season. The latitude at which Rio Grande do Sul soybeans are produced is 28 S and similar to Florida in the United States. Rio Grande do Sul grows 14% of the Brazil soybean harvest the 3rd largest state.
Goias has reported the driest conditions for soybean planting, the 4th leading soybean state. October was very dry, though recent showers have improved soil moisture allowing soybean planting to progress. Statewide, 58% of soybeans were planted November 1.
Potential for Record Harvest
AgRural anticipates a record area of Brazil soybeans in the 2013-14 growing season 72.4 million acres (29.3 million hectares). That would be 5.8% higher than last year. Production is predicted at a record 88.7 million metric tons 8.2% above last year’s 82 million metric tons, also a record.
The Brazil forecast continues wetter than normal in the week ahead, favorable for advancing soybean planting.
Vegetation health maps also show delayed planting in Argentina, but favorable conditions for Brazil:
