Mar 26, 2025
2024/25 Brazil Soybeans 77% Harvested
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
Brazil's 2024/25 soybeans were 77% harvested as of late last week compared to 69% last year and 67% average according to AgRural. This represents an increase of 7% for the week. In central Brazil the harvest is in the final stages. The major state left to harvest is the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul.
Rainfall last week in Brazil favored central and northern areas. It provided some relief for the southern safrinha corn. Rainfall is expected to be more widespread over the next 1-2 weeks with the heaviest amounts in northern areas. The rainfall will help the safrinha corn, but additional rainfall will be required.
The main reason for the lower estimate is disappointing yields being reported in Rio Grande do Sul. Farmers in the state knew the yields would be disappointing, but many yields are coming in below what had been expected. Hot and dry weather in January and February took a toll on the soybeans.
Rio Grande do Sul - Soybean yields in the state are highly variable due to hot and dry weather during January and February. In the state, 240 municipalities, which is 48% of the total, have declared a state of emergency due to the dry conditions. The statewide soybean yield is expected to be down by 30% or more. In some of the hardest hit non-irrigated areas, soybean yields are as low as 13 bu/ac. The soybeans in the state were approximately 13% harvested as of late last week.
AgRural lowers Brazil soybean estimate - AgRural lowered their 2024/25 Brazil soybean estimate by 2.3 million tons to 165.9 million. The reason for the reduction are disappointing yields in Rio Grande do Sul which is expected to produce 15 million tons of soybeans. At the start of the growing season, the state was expected to produce 21 million tons. The state has now slipped to the fourth largest soybean producing state in Brazil after Mato Grosso, Parana, and Goias.
AgRural increased their soybean production estimate for Mato Grosso to 49.5 million tons, which means that Mato Grosso will produce more soybeans in 2024/25 than Argentina. They lowered their production estimate for the states of Parana, Mato Grosso do Sul, Bahia, and Piaui.
Mato Grosso - The soybeans in Mato Grosso were 99.4% harvested as of late last week compared to 98.5% last year and 97% average according to the Mato Grosso Institute of Agricultural Economics (Imea). After a slow start, the harvest pace accelerated and finished up ahead of average. Below is the soybean harvest pace in Mato Grosso for March 21, 2025 from Imea.
Parana - Farmers in the state had harvested 81% of the soybeans as of earlier last week. Yields in the state continue to be reported as variable with the lowest yields recorded in the western part of the state.