Lower Soy Yields in Mato Grosso do Sul due to Adverse Weather

Soybeans in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul in southern Brazil are 94% harvested according to the Soybean & Corn Producers Association of Mato Grosso do Sul (Aprosoja/MS). The harvest is most advanced in the southern part of the state at 96.5%, while 83% of the soybeans have been harvested in the northern part of the state.

At the start of the growing season, Aprosoja/MS estimated the statewide soybean yield at 54 sacks per hectare (48.2 bu/ac), but that has now been lowered to 50.5 sacks per hectare (45.0 bu/ac) or a reduction of 19% compared to 2022/23.

Aprosoja/MS is estimating the 2023/24 soybean production in Mato Grosso do Sul at 12.92 million tons, which is down 13.8% from initial expectations.

Farmers in the state planted an estimated 4.00 million hectares of soybeans (9.88 million acres), but 240,000 hectares (593,000 acres) had to be replanted due to poor emergence caused by hot and dry weather during October and November. The combination of late planting and irregular rainfall during the growing season resulted in variable plant development and lower yields.

The soybean harvest is expected to be completed in the last week of April. Farmers in the state have sold 42% of their 2023/24 production, which is slower than average due to low domestic soybean prices. Farmers are hoping for higher prices especially if potential weather concerns develop over the next few months in the U.S.

Tags: Brazil, soybeans, Production, harvested, yield