Brazil’s Safrinha Corn Benefited by Late-Season Rains

Brazil’s two largest safrinha corn producing states, Mato Grosso and Parana, received beneficial rains last week that will help the crop reach its full yield potential. After generous rains in April, the month of May was generally dry, but the dry pattern in south-central Brazil was broken last week by 1-3 inches of widespread rains. There were also rains in central Brazil, but not as widespread.

The Mato Grosso institute of Agricultural Economics (Imea) increased their estimate of the statewide safrinha corn yield to 110.05 sacks per hectare (105 bu/ac), which was an increase of 4.2% from their last estimate and 7.6% higher than 2021/22. The improved yields are the result of greater precipitation this growing season and the fact that 80% of the 2022/23 safrinha corn was planted within the ideal planting window, which closed the end of February.

Imea left the safrinha corn acreage in Mato Grosso unchanged at 7.41 million hectares (18.3 million acres) and the corn production in Mato Grosso is now estimated at 48.99 million tons or an increase of 11.7% compared to 2021/22.

Recent rains in the state of Parana have also improved the prospects for the safrinha corn in the state. The Department of Rural Economics (Deral) reported that the safrinha corn in the state is 3% in vegetative development, 35% pollinating, 56% filling grain, and 6% maturing. The corn is rated 2% poor, 13% fair, and 85% good.

Generous rainfall earlier last week in western Parana ended a long period of dry weather and was very beneficial for the corn that was pollinating and filling grain. The last remaining potential obstacle for safrinha corn in Parana is the possibility of a frost before the corn has a chance to mature. There have been several episodes of light frost in the higher elevations of Parana, but the safrinha corn has been spared at least thus far. Any frost in Parana before the end of June could negatively impact the safrinha corn in the state.

Tags: estimate, Production, Mato Grosso, crop, yield, acreage, safrinha corn, rains, Parana, Brazil