Jan 04, 2023
2022/23 Brazil First Corn Crop Impacted by Dry Weather
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
Rio Grande do Sul - Planting of the corn crop in Rio Grande do Sul remains slow with 91% of the corn planted. Some farmers are waiting for additional soil moisture to complete their corn planting. Inadequate rainfall has led to moisture stress especially in the western part of the state.
Approximately 30% of the corn is germinating and in vegetative development, 20% is pollinating, 34% is filling grain, and 16% maturing. The earlier planted corn has been impacted the most because the dry weather hit as the crop was in its critical reproductive phase.
Parana - The first corn crop in Parana is 38% in vegetative development, 36% pollinating, 25% filling grain, and 1% mature according to the Department of Rural Economics' (Deral). The corn is rated 2% poor, 16% average, and 82% good.
Santa Catarina - Dry weather in the western part of the state could reduce corn yields as much as 20%, but the state is still expected to produce 2.7 million tons of corn. Farmers are concerned that the corn prices may not be high enough to cover their increased production costs.
Santa Catarina is the largest hog producing state in Brazil and hog producers continue to increase their production. The domestic demand for corn within the state is estimated at 8 million tons, so the state will need to bring in approximately 5.3 million tons of corn from Parana, the center-west region of Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina.