Delay in the pace of soybean planting could compromise production potential

The 2019/2020 soybean harvest in Brazil is being marked by delays in planting, compared to the last harvest. This situation can directly affect production potential, according to experts from the Brazilian Soy Strategic Committee (CESB). Problems such as irregular rainfall, worse varietal adaptation and more susceptibility to pests and diseases can be faced by producers due to the situation.

According to the latest projection from consultancy AgRural, planting reached 93% of the estimated area for Brazil. In 2018, it was at 96%. The consultancy reported in its bulletin that it would be necessary for the rains to come with intensity until February to try to avoid a drop in productivity.

For the founding member of CESB and specialist in Phytopathology, Ricardo Silveiro Balardin, these delays directly affect the productive potential of soybeans. He highlights the issue of varietal adaptation, which should be hampered due to this slowdown, in addition to the diseases that can attack crops. “An increase in inoculum pressure (mainly rust) may be observed, which may result in a greater number of sprays (probably unforeseen). In this case, it is likely that the producer will delay the first application, in an attempt to maintain the number of sprays at what was programmed/purchased, with a clear compromise in the final result,” he states.

In addition to also highlighting the greater pressure due to pest infestation, CESB member, Daniel Glat, reports that safrinha corn could also be harmed. “It is extremely dependent on the soybean planting date, because the water runs out in May and June. The earlier you plant the corn harvest, the better, and the later, the worse. I have the impression that the potential for loss in off-season corn could be even greater than soybeans,” he explains.

The specialist in Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition and member of CESB, Breno Araújo, agrees that the delay in soybean planting will affect the window indicated for off-season corn. “Planting corn outside the harvest window may not be the best strategy for building a high production environment. Maybe it’s better to put in some cover crops, correct the soil and think that the next harvest could be up to ten bags per hectare better,” he explains.

Producers feel the problems

The producer from Rio Grande do Sul, Maurício de Bortoli, champion of the last edition of the CESB Maximum Soy Productivity Challenge, reports that there was a 15-day delay in planting soybeans in his areas due to irregular rains. Thus, he ended up missing the ideal window in the region, which would be between October 20th and November 10th. “We started sowing the most rustic materials, which serve to dilute the planting and accompany the harvest, on November 12th. We only sow the best from November 15th. This delay will result in a drop in production potential, because these genetics do not respond as much to planting delays, they end up growing less, with fewer productive nodes”, he declares.

Producer Pedro Lima, a consultant from Minas Gerais and two-time champion of the CESB Challenge, was also waiting for the rains, but they did not come on the most suitable date for starting his planting, which would be between October 15th and November 15th. “A little rain came and we planted. But as the rain stopped, we had to stop. And the importance of the planting date is huge for the issue of productivity,” he says.

CESB Challenge

Soybean farmers who wish to challenge themselves to obtain production gains on their properties can now sign up for the 12th edition of the CESB Maximum Soy Productivity Challenge. The Challenge promoted by the Brazilian Soy Strategic Committee (CESB) is one of the main events in the area of ​​soybean cultivation in Brazil and can be considered as one of the main means of contributing to increasing the average productivity of the oilseed in the country. Registrations for the CESB Challenge can be carried out via the Committee's website (available here) until January 31, 2020.

The registered areas must be between 2,5 and 10 hectares and can compete in one of the two Challenge categories: irrigated or non-irrigated (rainfed) planting. In this edition, a new registration system was adopted, with a more modern and intuitive interface, to facilitate access and monitoring by participants. The champions will be revealed in June 2020 during the National Forum for Maximum Soy Productivity.