Sao Paulo / Reuters – Soybean planting in Brazil remained behind the historical average even after isolated rainfall in the center-west, analyst firm AgRural said on Friday, with 31 per cent of area planted compared to the 42 per cent five-year average.
A year earlier at this time 29 per cent of the previous crop was planted, while last week planting was 20 per cent complete, AgRural said.
Later planting will not necessarily limit output – last year’s crop was a record – but it could leave less time for farmers to plant a second annual crop of corn or cotton.
Top soy growing state Mato Grosso is most behind schedule because of lack of rain. Planting was 36 per cent complete, up from 20 per cent last week and behind the 66 per cent five-year average, AgRural said.
Rains were scarce until Oct. 20 in Mato Grosso, slowing planting that officially started on September 15. The Reuters weather dashboard shows that rains will pick up now through mid November, however, which should favour planting.
Reporting for Reuters by Caroline Stauffer.
