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Dry weather impacts soybean planting in Brazil

Soybean planting in parts of Brazil is off to a slow start as farmers wait for rain.

Grain marketing consultant Dr. Michael Cordonnier, who keeps close tabs on South American crops, says it’s the driest start to Brazil’s planting season in his recent memory.

“The soybeans are 21 percent planted. That compares to 34 percent last year at this time,” Cordonnier says. “So far, I would categorize it as a sub-par start. Will it be a sub-par end? We don’t know. Let’s kind of wait and see how the weather develops.”

Cordonnier is still predicting record soybean acreage and a record crop in Brazil. “I have Brazil scheduled for a record soybean crop—124 million tons. We’ll see if the weather cooperates,” he says.

The delays in soybean planting could also impact the planting of the second-crop safrinha corn, Cordonnier says.

“I already think some of the safrinha corn will be planted later than desired. The ideal planting window closes about the third week of February. So in those areas where the soybean planting is delayed, the corn is going to be delayed as well.”

Cordonnier is the president of Illinois-based Soybean and Corn Advisor.