MS 2024/25 Harvest: soybean harvest progresses, but drought is a concern

The 2024/2025 soybean harvest reached approximately 17,3% of the total area in Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), with a harvested area of ​​778.673 hectares. According to the weekly assessment of the Siga-MS Project, executed by Aprosoja/MS, approximately 1,9 million hectares are affected by water stress, representing 43% of the total area.

“Over the last seven days, the state has recorded considerable rainfall, with totals ranging from 8 to 73 millimeters. This rainfall was essential for maintaining crops in the regions most affected by the drought. Thanks to this, crop conditions have remained practically stable,” says the technical coordinator of Aprosoja/MS, Gabriel Balta.

The southern region is more advanced, with approximately 20,8% of the total harvested area, followed by the central region, with 18%, and the northern region, with 2,6% of the total harvested area. The harvested percentage is above the average of the last 5 years. For now, there is only a slight delay due to the rains. However, operations are continuing at full steam in the state. “The peak harvest begins this week, from 14/02 to 14/03. During this period, approximately 79% of the estimated area is expected to be harvested,” he explains.

Crop conditions

Na North region, 90% of crops are in good condition, 9,5% in regular condition and 0,5% in poor condition. In the Northeast region, 86,3% of crops are in good condition, 8,4% in regular condition and 5,3% in poor condition.

73% of the crops in western region are good, 13,7% are bad and 13,3% are regular. In the Central region, 48,4% of the crops are in good condition, 33,7% are in bad condition and 17,9% are in regular condition. In the South region, 37.% of the crops are in regular condition, 33,5% are in bad condition and 28,8% are in good condition.

Na southwest region, 49,3% of crops are in good condition, 37,7% are in regular condition and 13% are in poor condition.

Na south-border region, around 45% are in poor condition, 29,9% are in good condition and 25,2% are in fair condition.

Finally, in southwest region, 60% of crops are in good condition, 21% are in regular condition and 19% are in poor condition.

Corn

In parallel with the soybean harvest, Aprosoja/MS is monitoring the planting of the second corn crop for 2024/2025. According to Siga-MS, in the central region, around 15% of the total area was sown with the cereal, followed by the southern region with 14% and in the northern region, around 1,2% of the area has already been planted with corn.

“It is important to emphasize that planting should be carried out as early as possible within this window, preferably by the end of February, to reduce the risk of water deficit during critical phases of cultivation, such as flowering and grain filling. Agricultural zoning and local technical recommendations should also be consulted to adjust the planting calendar according to the specific region within the state,” concludes Gabriel. 

Expectation

The expectation for the 2024/2025 soybean harvest is that the area will be 6,8% larger than the previous cycle, reaching 4,501 million hectares. The estimated productivity is 51,7 bags/ha, the average of bags per hectare. Generating the expected production of 13,977 million tons. The outlook is based on the average of the last 5 years.

The estimate for the 2nd corn crop indicates that the cultivated area should reach 2,103 million hectares, with an average productivity of 80,8 bags per hectare. Production is estimated at 10,199 million tons, representing an increase of 20,6% compared to the previous cycle.