Paraná may have the largest barley area in history

Barley, which is just beginning to be planted, is once again gaining ground in Paraná, with the largest area ever planted in the state expected to be planted. The largest producer of this winter cereal, Paraná may have 94,6 thousand hectares planted and a production 40% higher than that recorded last year, reaching 413,8 thousand tons.

This is one of the topics detailed in the Agricultural Situation Bulletin for the week of April 11 to 16. The document from the Department of Rural Economy (Deral), of the State Secretariat of Agriculture and Supply (Seab), also talks about the climate consequences on other crops and analyzes Paraná's performance in animal proteins.

In 2024, Paraná harvested 296,1 thousand tons of barley on 80,5 thousand hectares. The 18% increase in Paraná areas to receive the crop in the upcoming harvest is mainly a reflection of the return of planting intentions in the Guarapuava region. The forecast is that 36,9 thousand hectares will be sown, or 25% more than the 29,6 thousand hectares harvested last year.

Even with this increase in Guarapuava, the Campos Gerais region is still expected to have a larger planted area, with 38 thousand hectares. “The gain is especially happening in the Guarapuava region due to the enthusiasm with the better prices and the satisfactory field results experienced in the Center-South of Paraná in 2024”, said agronomist Carlos Hugo Godinho, from Deral.

Malting plants in Paraná need malt, which led to record purchases. In the first quarter, around 200 tons were purchased to maintain Paraná as the largest producer of Brazilian malt. “Confirmation of a larger and high-quality production is essential to reduce the need to import barley,” said Godinho.

soy and corn

The bulletin also mentions a 5,3% loss in the field in the first soybean harvest. The South region even showed a 4,7% productivity gain, however the other regions, especially the Northwest, were greatly impacted by the drought and atypical heat waves.

Corn crops are performing well, especially in the South and Southwest regions, which account for most of the planted area. However, as with soybeans, other regions are feeling the effects of scarce rainfall and intense heat.