Grain production for the 2017/2018 harvest could reach 227,9 million tons, with a decline of 4,1% compared to the previous harvest of 237,7 million tons, but the total area records growth of more of 1%, exceeding 61 million hectares. The study carried out by the National Supply Company (Conab) is part of the 4th Survey of the 2017/2018 Grain Harvest, released this Thursday (11).
With the planting of the main crops already concluded, soybeans and corn continue to attract producer preference, accounting for almost 90% of the grains produced in the country. For soybeans, with a drop of 3,2%, 110,4 million tons are forecast against 114,1 million/t in the last period. In the case of total corn, the expectation of a 5,6% reduction changes from 97,8 million tons to the current 92,3 million/t. The first harvest, with smaller numbers at this stage, could be 25,2 million tons, while the second could reach 67,2 million tons, a record close to past production of 67,4 million/t.
According to the study, cotton presented the best scenario, with an increase of 11,4% in lint production, totaling 1,7 million tons and an increase of 11,9% in area. This increase, together with that of soybeans, favored the expansion of the total planted area. Cotton reaches numbers above 1 million hectares, while soybeans, with greater liquidity and the possibility of better profitability compared to other crops, tend to have an average increase of 3,2%, reaching 35 million hectares.
In productivity, taking into account that some crops are still in the planting phase, the numbers are based on the overlap of yields determined in field research with the agrometeorological and spectral monitoring carried out by the Company. Soybeans point to a productivity of 3.156 kg/hectare compared to 3.364 in the previous harvest. The research was carried out in the main grain producing centers in the country, from December 17th to 23rd.
Discover: here the bulletin.
Receive the latest agriculture news by email
Receive the latest agriculture news by email
