Grain production in Brazil in the 2018/2019 harvest is expected to reach 235.34 million tons, an increase of 3.4% (+7.7 million tons) compared to the previous period (227.67 million tons). The result represents the second largest harvest in the historical series, and an increase of 2 million tons before the February forecast (233.29 million tons). The numbers are part of the 7th survey of Conab, released this week. According to Conab, soyabeans, corn, rice and cotton are the main crops produced in the country, accounting for 94.5% of the harvest. Soyabean production is estimated at 113.8 million tons (down 4.6% from a record 2017/18, which was 119.28 million tons), and could reach the third highest harvest in the historical series . The improvement in corn production in the second harvest also contributes to pulling the numbers of the 2018/19 harvest. The estimated harvest of total corn at 94 million tons represents an increase of 16.5% compared to the previous harvest (80.71 million tons). The second cereal harvest is expected to reach 68.14 million tons from 53.90 million tons in 2017/18 (up 26.4%). The first harvest of summer corn, already harvested, is projected at 25.87 million tons (down by 3.5% from the previous harvest of 26.81 million tons). Rice production is expected to reach 10.7 million tons, down 11.7% from 2017/18 (12.06 million tons). Conab estimates that, among winter crops, the wheat crop should reach 5.63 million tons, an increase of 3.7% compared to 2018 (5.43 million tons). According to Conab, the total planted area in 2018/19 is expected to grow by 2.1%, from 61.72 million hectares in 2017/18 to 63.03 million hectares in 2018/19. The planted area of soyabean, the main crop, grew 1.8%, corresponding to the planting of 35 million hectares. The largest increases in area are soyabeans (626K hectares), corn second crop (702.8K hectares) and cotton (410.8K hectares). Conab also reports that in that season, sowing of the second crop was practically closed in the main producing states, especially in those areas harvested with the early soyabean varieties, and planting in this exercise will generally occur faster than verified in the last harvest.
Fonte: Revista Globo Rural