Jul 18, 2024
Safrinha Corn 67% Harvested in Parana
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
Farmers in the state of Parana in southern Brazil had harvested 67% of their 2023/24 safrinha corn as of earlier this week according to the Department of Rural Economics (Deral). This represents an advance of only 1% for the week. The remainder of the corn is 3% filling grain and 97% maturing.
Rainfall last week paralyzed harvest activity across the state, but it came too late in the growth cycle to improve yields. The remaining corn is rated as 21% poor, 36% average, and 43% good.
Deral reported that corn yields across the state are highly variable due to the erratic nature of the rainfall during the growing season. On a positive note, Deral indicated that farmers in the state had more success this growing season in controlling corn leafhoppers, especially in areas that did not encounter drought. Corn leafhoppers can spread a virus/bacteria that causes corn stunt disease. There is no cure once the plant is infected, so it is imperative that corn producers control corn leafhoppers to prevent infections.
Parana is the second largest safrinha corn producing state in Brazil after Mato Grosso.