Source: APKinform (Ukraine)
Brazil soybean production weather challenges are emerging as CONAB reports harvest progress. Moreover, as of February 14, 25% of the planned soybean harvest in Brazil had been completed, which is generally in line with last year’s figure for the same date, but below the average for the last five years.
Brazil Soybean Production Weather: Regional Harvest Progress
The greatest progress in the harvest campaign has been recorded in the state of Mato Grosso. Furthermore, about 61% of the planned area has already been threshed there. At the same time, only 17% of the planned area has been harvested in the state of Minas Gerais. Additionally, 20% has been harvested in Paraná, and 16% in Mato Grosso do Sul.
Weather Challenges Across Brazil
As noted, excessive rainfall in the central and northern regions of the country is complicating field work. Consequently, forecasters predict more rain in the second half of February. Meanwhile, in the south of the country, particularly in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, heat and drought are negatively affecting crops. Therefore, if the dry weather in this region continues over the next two weeks, it could reduce oilseed yields.
Analyst Forecasts and Production Estimates
Due to the uneven weather conditions, a number of analysts have already revised their forecasts for Brazil’s soybean harvest to below 180 million tons. However, the final estimates remain uncertain.