Oct 10, 2024
First Corn Crop 85% Planted in Parana, Brazil
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
Farmers in the southern Brazilian state of Parana have planted 85% of their first corn crop according to the Department of Rural Economics (Deral). This represents an advance of 11% for the week.
The corn is 14% germinating and 86% in vegetative development and the corn is rated 5% average and 95% good. The slowest planting pace is in northern Parana where the rainfall has not been as abundant. The forecast for Parana is calling for moderate to heavy rainfall over the next 10 days.
Parana's first corn crop is much smaller than the safrinha corn crop which is planted after the soybeans are harvested. Farmers in Parana had planted 26% of their soybeans as of late last week, which is ahead of last year and the five-year average. Therefore, there is a high probability that farmers in the state will be able to plant their safrinha corn within the ideal planting window next January and February.
Corn stunt disease, which is spread by corn leafhoppers, was a problem in Parana last year so many farmers tried to choose corn hybrids more resistant to the pest as well as applying seed treatments to minimize corn leafhopper numbers. Once a plant is infected with corn stunt disease, there is no remedy, so it is incumbent to control the pest as early as possible after the corn has emerged.