Soybean harvest advances in Brazil, but the pace remains below average

The harvest of the new Brazilian soybean season again had a week of reasonable progress between March 11 and 17. Low moisture registered in the South and Southeast regions allowed a better advance of agricultural machines, while more voluminous rains in other regions caused some delays again.

According to research carried out by SAFRAS & Mercado, up to March 17, 58.6% were reaped from a total sown area of 43.859 mln hectares, equivalent to approximately 25.688 mln hectares. The previous week, the percentage was 48.9%. In the same period last year, the percentage was 69.9%. The five-year average for the period is 61.2%.

In Rio Grande do Sul, out of a total sown area of 6.57 mln hectares, 1% was reaped, or approximately 66 thousand hectares. The previous week, the percentage was 0.1%. In the same period last year, the percentage was 10%. The five-year average for the period is 9.0%.

In Paraná, from a total area of 5.75 mln hectares sown, 52% were reaped, or the equivalent of approximately 2.99 mln hectares. The previous week, the percentage was 33%. In the same period last year, the percentage was 72%, while the five-year average for the period is 67.8%.

In Mato Grosso, from a total sown area of 11.8 mln hectares, 97% were reaped, or approximately 11.446 mln hectares. The previous week, the percentage was 95%. In the same period last year, the percentage was 99%. The five-year average for the period is 95.4%.

In Mato Grosso do Sul, 65% were reaped, or the equivalent of approximately 2.678 mln hectares of a total sown area of 4.12 mln hectares. The previous week, the percentage was 40%. In the same period last year, 96% had been reaped, while the five-year average for the period is 88.0%.

In Goiás, from a total sown area of 4.46 mln hectares, 80% were reaped, or the equivalent of approximately 3.568 mln hectares. The previous week, the percentage was 71%. In the same period last year, 91% had been reaped. The five-year average for the period is 73.2%.

In São Paulo, out of a total sown area of 1.35 mln hectares, 50% were reaped, or the equivalent of approximately 675 thousand hectares. The week earlier, the percentage was 35%. In the same period last year, 76% had been reaped. The five-year average for the period is 63.4%.

In Minas Gerais, 58% were reaped, or the equivalent of approximately 1.218 mln hectares of a total sown area of 2.1 mln hectares. The previous week, the percentage was 42%. In the same period last year, 78% had been reaped, while the five-year average for the period is 60.6%.

In Bahia, out of a total sown area of 1.95 mln hectares, 33% were reaped, or approximately 644 thousand hectares. The previous week, the percentage was 28%. In the same period last year, 43% had been reaped. The five-year average for the period is 24.6%.

Weather forecasts now point to a period of low moisture for the states of the South and Southeast regions in the period between March 19 and 25, which should help the evolution of machines, although Rio Grande do Sul still needs moisture to finish later crops. The other regions must receive high moisture accumulation in the period, which can slow down the harvest.

In the period between March 26 and April 1, moisture should be reduced in most of the country’s producing states, which should boost work. Despite this, Rio Grande do Sul must receive beneficial rainfall for the final crop development in the period.

Tags: harvest, Brazil, soybean, sown area