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Mato Grosso soy harvest is almost 30% behind average, according to government agencies.

Julio Bravo, CEO

April 13, 2021

2 Min Read
soybeans in Brazil
Edualdo Junior Simões

Brazil’s soybean crop has been negatively impacted one way or another since the seeds went into the ground six months ago.

After starting off with below average precipitation, rains then hammered the most productive states. In some limited regions a few beans sprouted in pods causing grain quality issues.

In Mato Grosso, Brazil’s biggest soybean producing state, harvest is still delayed by nearly 30% compared to same time last year, according to Conab (Brazilian National Supply Company).

“Excessive rain did cause delays in harvesting, but it affected mostly the north part of the state,” says Almir Dalpasquale, former president and current member of the advisory board of Association of Corn and Soybean Producers in Mato Grosso do Sul (APROSOJA/MS).

Harvest is expected to be finished by the end of this week, with “a small reduction in the yield of expected soybeans harvested.”

The drought at the start of planting “was more harmful to the soybean crop than the current excess of rain in these final stages,” says Gabriel Dognani, a Mato Grosso producer. But, he added, the percentage of fungus-infected crops and sprouting pods was so small that it did not affect productivity.

Domino effect

Now, the challenge is corn. The soybean harvest delay is having a domino effect on the start of second crop (safrinha) corn. Brazil’s second corn crop planting (the biggest of three) is being finished right now; a much smaller third corn crop is starting to be planted mostly in Brazil’s warmer northeast.

La Niña weather hit all crops hardest in southern states and increases in planted acreage were not enough to make up for weather-related losses. The second corn crop is expected to grow 10.3% in tonnage, while the first corn crop suffered yield losses. So, the average/overall expected tonnage increase in Brazil’s corn crop production is 5.4% in 2020/2021 compared to last year.

The opinions of the author are not necessarily those of Farm Futures or Farm Progress. 

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About the Author(s)

Julio Bravo

CEO, AgroBravo

Júlio Bravo is CEO of AgroBravo, a travel, education and events company focusing on agribusiness relationships. Located in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil, he is also CEO of AGB Consulting and co-founder of Eniatto Advisory. He started his career at Grupo SLC and also worked in John Deere Brazil’s marketing department. Júlio is passionate about global networking and is a natural communicator, which made him a successful entrepreneur.

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