Brazilian soybean harvest remains delayed despite reasonable progress

The harvest for the new Brazilian soybean crop once again made reasonable progress in the country’s main growing states between March 18 and 24.

With a less moist climate in the South and Southeast regions, agricultural machines managed to evolve at a good pace. In the Midwest, some excess moisture prevented a better advance of the machines in sections of the states of Mato Grosso and Goiás, while in Mato Grosso do Sul lower moisture was beneficial.

According to research carried out by SAFRAS & Mercado, up to March 24, 67.0% were reaped from a total sown area of 43.859 mln ha, equivalent to approximately 29.402 mln ha. The previous week, the percentage was 58.6%. In the same period of the previous year, the percentage was 76.4%. The five-year average for the period is 69.0%.

In Rio Grande do Sul, from a total sown area of 6.57 mln ha, 5% were reaped, or approximately 329 thousand hectares. The previous week, the percentage was 1%. In the same period last year, the percentage was 15%. The five-year average for the period is 15.6%.

In Paraná, from a total area of 5.75 mln ha sown, 63% were reaped, or the equivalent of approximately 3.623 mln ha. The previous week, the percentage was 52%. In the same period last year, the percentage was 80%, while the five-year average for the period is 77.8%.

In Mato Grosso, from a total sown area of 11.8 mln ha, 98% were reaped, or approximately 11.564 mln ha. The previous week, the percentage was 97%. In the same period last year, the percentage was 99%. The five-year average for the period is 97.8%.

In Mato Grosso do Sul, 85% were reaped, or the equivalent of approximately 3.502 mln ha of a total sown area of 4.12 mln ha. The previous week, the percentage was 65%. In the same period last year, 99% had been reaped, while the five-year average for the period is 94.6%.

In Goiás, out of a total sown area of 4.46 mln ha, 85% were reaped, or the equivalent of approximately 3.791 mln ha. The previous week, the percentage was 80%. In the same period last year, 96% had been reaped. The five-year average for the period is 85.0%.

In São Paulo, out of a total sown area of 1.35 mln ha, 62% were reaped, or the equivalent of approximately 837 thousand hectares. The week earlier, the percentage was 50%. In the same period last year, 85% had been reaped. The five-year average for the period is 81.4%.

In Minas Gerais, 71% were reaped, or the equivalent of approximately 1.491 mln ha of a total sown area of 2.1 mln ha. The previous week, the percentage was 58%. In the same period last year, 87.0% had been reaped, while the five-year average for the period is 76.6%.

In Bahia, out of a total sown area of 1.95 mln ha, 60% were reaped, or approximately 1.17 mln ha. The previous week, the percentage was 33%. In the same period of the previous year, 69% had been reaped. The five-year average for the period is 32.0%.

Weather forecasts now point to a period of low moisture over the states of the Southeast and Midwest regions between March 24 and 30, which must allow a good advance of machines in the main states and until the completion of work in the state of Mato Grosso. In the South Region, some moisture is expected, but without excess. In the North, however, more moisture is expected, which must hinder the work progress, while in the Northeast regional rains are expected.

In the period between March 31 and April 6, the picture must be very similar to the previous period.

Tags: harvest, Brazil, soybean, crop, moisture, sown area