Current rains help coffee and summer crops

In recent months, the Heat in the most central part of Northeastern Brazil contributed to accelerating the summer crop cycle in that region, with the lack of rain being unfavorable for both cotton and soybeans, especially those planted later. However, in recent days there have been rain events in this region, favoring these crops. In the case of the South and Central regions of the country, summer rains, in general, have been favorable for summer crops, mainly off-season corn and soybeans. The coffee region in the state of Minas has also benefited from the recent rains.

The rains

Rainfall in April may occur below average in the extreme west of Bahia, southwest and southeast of Piauí and south of Ceará. Above-average rainfall may occur in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso do Sul and southwest of Mato Grosso do Sul, as well as throughout the state of São Paulo. In April, in the state of Minas Gerais, rainfall may occur above average for the western portion of the Triângulo Mineiro, in the south/southeast portion of Zona da Mata, in the western mesoregions, in Campo das Vertentes and South/Southwest of Minas. There is a possibility that rainfall will be below average for the northwestern mesoregion, Jequitinhonha, Vale do Mucuri and Rio Doce.

The temperatures

In the month of April there is a 70% probability that temperatures will be above the average for the month for the states of Mato Grosso do Sul and São Paulo. There is a 40% chance that temperatures will be above average in the three southern states of Brazil and the entire state of Bahia, with the exception of the extreme west of Bahia and other Brazilian regions where there is a 90% probability that temperatures will be above the average for the period in April. For the state of Minas Gerais, temperatures may be above average in Zona da Mata, Vale do Rio Doce, Mucuri and Jequitinhonha, in the North of Minas and in the western portion of the Triângulo Mineiro, and in the other regions of the state the probability is that they remain within normal limits this month.

The coffee

The current rainfall regime has favored the natural cycle of the plants which, this year, showed early flowering which will result in an early harvest. Depending on the altitude of each region, harvesting may begin at the end of April or beginning of May. Considering the good vegetative development in this high harvest year, the producer must be aware of the signs of low levels of macro and micronutrients that the plants may present. Such care is necessary to prevent the plants from arriving malnourished in the next harvest. Therefore, soil and foliar fertilization carried out at this time will favor the current nutritional level of the plants and, consequently, the next coffee harvest. The producer must also be aware of the current rains which, when combined with the high temperatures that have been occurring, create an environment favorable to the development of weeds, with control being carried out whenever necessary so that these “spontaneous plants” do not come to fruition. compete in nutrients with coffee plants, especially in younger plantations.

El Niño

Despite losing strength, the climatic characteristics in the central-eastern part of the tropical Pacific Ocean indicate the continuation of the phenomenon El Niño which is expected to continue losing strength until the beginning of next winter (end of June), with the development of a phenomenon already being considered possible La niña, even in the next spring season.

The analysis and climate prognosis presented here were prepared based on statistics and the history of the occurrence of global climate phenomena, mainly those active in South America. Information made freely available by NOAA was also considered; International Institute for Research on Climate and Society — IRI; Met Office Hadley Centre; European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts — ECMWF; Amazon Climate Bulletin prepared by the Meteorology Division (DIVMET) of the Amazon Protection System (SIPAM) and based on climate data made available by INMET/CPTEC-INPE. Due to the fact that the climate forecast makes reference to natural phenomena that present chaotic characteristics and are subject to drastic changes, EPAMIG and Embrapa Café are not responsible for any damage and/or harm that the user may suffer, or may cause third parties, for the misuse of the information contained in this article. The use of the information made available here is the sole responsibility of the user (reader).