Paraná should have a record soybean harvest

Rural producers in Paraná are preparing to increase grain productivity after a historic drop in the 2021/22 harvest. Although the cycle was prolonged by low temperatures during the beginning of planting and some localized problems, the soybean harvest is expected to beat the previous record of 20,7 million tons in the 2019/20 harvest.

According to the Department of Rural Economy (Deral) of the Secretariat of Agriculture and Supply (Seab), a production of more than 21 million tons of soybeans is expected, an increase of nine million in relation to the last cycle, when production barely exceeded 12 million tons. With most conditions favorable to crops, there is a climate of optimism in the countryside.

"After seasons with severe losses, this harvest has everything to be full, allowing the producer to capitalize again. And we know that when the field is doing well, the economy of the municipalities of Paraná is doing well too", says Ágide Meneguette, president of the FAEP/SENAR-PR System.

Producer Rodrigo Schneider, who cultivates 850 hectares in the municipalities of Pitanga, Candói and Foz do Jordão, planted in a staggered manner, resulting in harvests at different times (the region has the peculiarity of cold; in general, corn is not planted in second harvest). "Planting in the intermediate period from October 20th to November 5th is the best we have. In our areas, we have crops that should produce 50 to 70 bags per hectare", he shares.

The weather has helped, both in terms of rain and periods of steady sun to provide security in pesticide applications. However, some problems worry farmers in the region, such as Asian rust, white mold and herbicide-resistant weeds.

"We expect a harvest of 80% utilization for more. We are still concerned about the soybeans that were planted later, as we are afraid of an epidemic of some type of disease at the end of the cycle. This soybean is treated, but we are afraid of fungicides with low level of control", highlights Schneider.