Sep 19, 2024
First Crop Corn 46% Planted in State of Parana in Southern Brazil
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
The Department of Rural Economics for the southern Brazilian state of Parana (Deral) reported that 46% of the first corn crop had been planted as of earlier this week. This represents an advance of 17% for the week.
Corn is 40% germinating and 60% in vegetative development and the corn is rated 3% average and 97% good.
After more than four months of hot and dry weather, the first summer rains returned to the state last week and more rain is in the forecast for this week. This should encourage farmers to continue planting their corn and start on their soybean planting.
Corn leafhoppers have already been detected in the state and farmers are encouraged to monitor their fields and take appropriate control measures. Corn leafhoppers can transmit corn stunt disease and there is no remedy for the disease once the plant is infected, so the best way to prevent yield losses is to control the insect as early as possible.
Farmers in the state plant two corn crops. The first crop is planted in September and October and the second crop, known as the safrinha, is planted after the soybeans are harvested in January and February. The first crop is the smaller of the two and farmers continue to reduce their first corn crop acreage while they increase their safrinha corn acreage.
Parana is the third largest first crop corn producing state after the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Minas Geris. Parana is the second largest second crop corn producing state after Mato Grosso.
Conab recently estimated that Brazil will produce 119.8 million tons of corn in 2024/25, which represents an increase of 3.6% compared to 2023/24. Conab will release their first official production estimate on October 15th.