Dry start to soybean season in southern Brazil

The weather so far this season in Brazil has been reminiscent of last year when precipitation trends also split the growing region in two. Although conditions across central Brazil, including key-producing state Mato Grosso, have trended drier than last year since October, the timely return of rains to the region is expected to be beneficial for the region’s soybean crop. While there are still expected to be pockets of dryness in areas of central Brazil, resulting in lower yields, overall, the soybean crop is projected to fare okay this season.

However, conditions across southern Brazil, including the state of Rio Grande do Sul, are once again seeing a dry start to the soybean season. While Rio Grande do Sul plants their soybean crop later than states further north, planting progress is trailing both last year and average through December. Areas of the state are reporting issues with germination and moisture stress, which will ultimately negatively impact final yields. 

The week-ending December 24 in Rio Grande do Sul was the 8th warmest and 6th driest in 30+ years, according to data from WeatherTrends360. While maximum temperatures trended above normal for the week, crops did get some relief from the heat overnight as minimum temperatures trended below normal. In Mato Grosso, the week trended the 9th warmest and 14th wettest in 30+ years. While warmer and drier than last year, conditions for the week as a whole were close to normal. 

Similar to southern Brazil, the weather across much of Argentina’s growing region has been less than ideal so far this season. According to data from WeatherTrends360, the week-ending December 24 was the 16th coldest and 9th driest in the last 30+ years for Argentina’s soybean growing region as a whole. Planting progress for both corn and soybean crops in Argentina is well behind average pace this season. The final week of December will bring some light showers to northern Argentina, once again leaving much of the growing region waiting for moisture. 

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