Aprosoja points to climate as a determining factor for record 2020/21 harvest

The president of the Association of Soy and Corn Producers of Mato Grosso (Aprosoja), Antonio Galvan, believes that the National Supply Company's (Conab) estimate that the 2020/21 harvest will reach a record 268,7 million tons could be achieved, however, the determining factor for this to occur is directly related to climate effects.

“The drought was greater than in recent years, impacting the delay in planting in all regions. Without rain and with below-average soil moisture storage, the producer is unable to start planting”, he pondered.

According to the 1st Survey of the 2020/21 grain harvest by Conab, production is estimated at 268,7 million tons, surpassing the record of 11 million tons from the last harvest by around 257,7 million tons. The data also points to a growth in the cultivated area, in the order of 1,3%. The expectation is that this harvest will cover around 66,8 million hectares, which corresponds to 879,5 thousand hectares more.

Soybean production is estimated at 133,7 million tons and keeps Brazil as the world's largest producer of the oilseed. The total corn harvest is expected to reach 105,2 million tons, also the largest in the historical series, with an increase of 2,6% over the previous one.

“It is possible for us to reach this record set by Conab, but everything will depend on the weather, which is the worst in recent years. Let’s wait and hope that the rains settle down and we can reach these estimated numbers”, concludes the president.