Mar 14, 2023
Brazil Safrinha Corn 81% Planted
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
The 2022/23 Brazilian safrinha corn planting was 81% as of late last week compared to 94% last year. This represented an advance of 11% for the week. The planting in Mato Grosso is nearly complete at 96.4% while Parana continues slow at 37%. Safrinha corn planting is especially slow in Parana, southern Mato Grosso do Sul, and Sao Paulo.
Mato Grosso - The safrinha corn planting in Mato Grosso is nearing completion with 96.4% planted compared to 97.9% last year and 96.2% average. This represents an advance of 7% for the week. After a slow start, the safrinha planting caught up to average in the end.
The graph below from the Mato Grosso Institute of Agricultural Economics (Imea) shows the 2022/23 safrinha corn planting progress in Mato Grosso (red line).
Parana - Farmers in Parana had planted 37% of their safrinha corn as of earlier last week compared to 69% in 2022, 43% in 2021, and 72% in 2020. This represents an advance of 11% for the week. A high percentage of the corn will be planted after the ideal planting window has closed which increases the risk of frost before the crop has a chance to mature. The planting this year is even slower than 2021 when an early killing frost devasted the corn crop in the state.
Some farmeres in the state may opt to plant wheat instead of safrinha corn if they cannot get the corn planted in a timely manner because if the corn is planted outside the permitted window, they cannot access crop insurance. The ideal time to plant wheat in Parana is from April to July, depending on location.
Mato Grosso do Sul - Mato Grosso do Sul is one of the slowest states for safrinha corn planting this year. The corn was 42% planted as of late last week compared to 93% last year and 72% average. As you can see on the graph below, this is one of the slowest planting in recent years. The graph below from Famasul shows the 2022/23 safrinha corn planting progress in Mato Grosso do Sul (blue line).
Sao Paulo - The slow soybean harvest in the state (40% harvested) is also slowing the safrinha corn planting. The ideal planting window closed at the end of February, but only 30% of the safrinha corn has been planted. Any corn planted in March runs an increased risk of dry weather and/or frost before the corn has a chance to mature.