Jul 22, 2024
Mato Grosso Farmers Increased 2023/24 Cotton Acreage by 19.7%
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
Mato Grosso is Brazil's largest cotton producing state and the Mato Grosso Institute of Agricultural Economics (Imea) is estimating that farmers in the state increased their 2023/24 cotton acreage by 19.7% to 1.44 million hectares (3.55 million acres). They estimate that 264,900 hectares (654,300 acres) were planted as full-season cotton and that 1.18 million hectares (2.91 million acres) were planted as a safrinha or a second crop following soybeans. The full-season crop represents 18% of the total while the safrinha crop represents 82% of the total.
Safrinha cotton and safrinha corn compete for the same acreage in Mato Grosso and farmeres in the state decided to reduce their 2023/24 safrinha corn acreage due to low prices and reduced margins and replace it with increased acreage of safrinha cotton.
Imea is estimating that the statewide cotton yield will be down 6.4% compared to last year, but it would still be the third highest cotton yield in the states' history.
Full-season cotton in Mato Grosso is generally planted during the month of December, whereas safrinha cotton is generally planted in January after the soybeans are harvested. During the 2023/24 growing season, approximately 50 cotton producers in the state were given permission by the Brazilian Minister of Agriculture to plant their soybeans earlier than the rules allowed, thus allowing them to plant their cotton early as well.
For the 2024/25 growing season, everyone in Mato Grosso will be allowed to plant their soybeans starting on September 1st, which is 15 days earlier than last year. Farmers with irrigation capabilities will plant their soybeans immediately after September 1st allowing for the safrinha cotton, or safrinha corn, to be planted early as well. Farmers without irrigation will have to wait for the first summer rains to plant soybeans to ensure enough soil moisture for soybean germination and stand establishment.