Safrinha Yields in Paraguay are Good, but Potential Quality Issues

After a disastrous 2021/22 soybean crop, farmers in Paraguay are pleased with their safrinha corn and safrinha soybean production. Drought and record high temperatures between last October and January resulted in a 60% reduction in Paraguay’s 2021/22 soybean production. On the positive side, the dry weather and smaller soybean production allowed farmers to plant their safrinha crops a little earlier than normal in January. Fortunately, the weather improved starting in mid-January and it has remained beneficial since then.

The Agricultural Coordinator of Paraguay (CAP) informed Paraguay’s La Nacion newspaper that early corn yields are in the range of 100 sacks per hectare (95.4 bu/ac) and that early soybean yields are in the range of 30 sacks per hectare (26.8 bu/ac).

Recent wet weather and a lack of sunshine has farmers concerned about potential quality issues with their corn. The corn still has seed moisture in the range of 22% to 24% and farmers would prefer that the corn dries down naturally instead of paying for drying, but they are concerned about corn diseases if the corn is not harvested soon.

The gibberella fungus has been reported in some corn fields. Gibberella can colonize the ear and turn it pink to red over time and produce a mycotoxin called vomitoxin. If vomitoxin is present in their feed, animals will refuse to eat. If there is too much vomitoxin, grain merchants will refuse to buy the corn.

Most of the safrinha soybeans produced in Paraguay will be used as seed for the 2022/23 crop, which will be planted in August-September-October. For winter wheat, the weather has been ideal and the crop is developing normally.

Tags: gibberella, Production, soybean crop, drought, yields, safrinha corn, Paraguay, high temperatures, safrinha soybean