Slow Progress in Harvesting

The Brazil soybean harvest for the 2024/25 season in Mato Grosso, is largest soybean-producing state, has started at a sluggish pace. Farmers in Mato Grosso harvested only 0.7% of the soybean area last week, significantly less than the 6.4% harvested during the same period last year and the 2.3% historical average, according to the Mato Grosso Institute of Agricultural Economics (Imea). This represents a week-on-week progress of just 0.6%.

Factors Behind the Delay

The delayed start to harvesting is primarily attributed to:

1. Late Planting: Farmers postponed planting in September and early October due to dry soil conditions.
2. Weather Challenges: Prolonged wet weather, overcast skies, and limited sunshine have slowed crop development.

Most of the soybeans harvested so far are from irrigated fields that were planted in early September.

Regional Harvest Updates

The harvest is progressing differently across regions in Mato Grosso:

• Mid-North Region: 1.1% harvested.
• North Region: 0.7% harvested.
• West Region: 0.6% harvested.

Farmers in the state planted a total of 12.66 million hectares (31.2 million acres) of soybeans for the 2024/25 season, making Mato Grosso the leading soybean producer in Brazil, followed by Paraná.

Concerns Over Wet Weather and Yields

The nearly constant wet weather has not yet caused significant delays since few soybeans are ready for harvesting. However, early dryland soybeans are expected to mature in the next ten days, potentially amplifying weather-related challenges.

Farmers who have begun harvesting irrigated soybeans report yields below expectations, citing the adverse effects of overcast conditions and insufficient sunshine.

Conclusion

The slow start to Mato Grosso’s soybean harvest reflects challenges posed by delayed planting and unfavorable weather. As early dryland soybeans mature, the coming weeks will be crucial in determining the overall progress and yield outcomes for the state. Farmers remain hopeful but cautious, monitoring weather conditions closely to mitigate potential setbacks.





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