Recovery in corn production in Santa Catarina

The 2022/23 corn harvest in Santa Catarina should be satisfactory, after two years of frustration. Soybeans maintain the expectation of a great harvest in the State and wheat producers in Santa Catarina are encouraged for the next agricultural cycle. Banana production in Santa Catarina recovered, returning to 2019 levels, while prices continue to rise. Exports on the rise in rice, chicken and pork. 

These and other analyzes are present in the April Agricultural Bulletin, a monthly document in which Epagri/Cepa technicians present an economic analysis of agriculture in Santa Catarina. 

Banana

Santa Catarina's banana prices and supply are on the rise. 

In the first three months of the year, the negotiated value of bananas from Santa Catarina in national supply centers was R$41,2 million, an increase of 50% compared to the same period of the previous year. The volume was 16,7 thousand tons, which represents 10% of the total sold. The growth is a reflection of the increase in demand. 

Santa Catarina's banana supply is above 5 thousand tons per month, returning to 2019 levels. At the end of February, strong winds and rain hit the municipalities of Luiz Alves, Massaranduba and São João do Itaperiú, damaging banana plantations in the region. However, the increase in production throughout March maintained the supply of fruit on the market.

Rice

The increase in exports and the expectation of problems in the Rio Grande do Sul harvest increased the price of rice. From January to March, exports totaled US$8,06 million, approximately double the total exported in the entire year 2022. The main destination was Venezuela. With the fall in the dollar observed in recent days, it is possible that Brazilian grain will lose competitiveness and, as a result, there will be a reduction in the pace of shipments. 

To date, 90,5% of the area sown in the State has been harvested, on the North Coast it is practically finished. Epagri/Cepa's initial estimate points to a production of 1.235.230 tons in the 2022/23 harvest, a small drop of -1,34% compared to the last harvest, when productivity was above average. 

Bean

By the end of March, 93% of the areas planted with first-crop beans in Santa Catarina had been harvested. This harvest was marked by delays in planting, due to adverse weather conditions, which resulted in a shortening of the planting window. As a result, many producers reduced their areas. Others replaced beans with another summer crop. 

Regarding second-crop beans, approximately 67% of the planted area in the State is in the flowering phase, with 98% of crops in good condition and only 2% in poor condition.

In March, the bag of carioca beans was 10,86% above what was paid in the same month last year, in nominal terms. For black beans, the annual reduction was 13,38%.

Corn

After two years of frustration, due to the drought, the 2022/23 corn harvest in Santa Catarina can be considered satisfactory, with losses located in the areas adjacent to the Uruguay River in the extreme west. 76% of the total cultivated has already been harvested, with an estimated production of 2,69 million tons. 

Prices are at their lowest values ​​since October 2020, with a decline of 5,7% between February and March and 18,1% between March 2022 and this year. 

Soybean

The numbers are pointing to an excellent soybean harvest in the State, possibly the largest in the historical series collected by Epagri/Cepa, with an estimated harvest of 2,74 million tons in the first 2022/23 harvest. 

The advance of the record harvest in the country pushes prices down. In March, the average price paid to producers reached R$157,52 per bag, the lowest value in more than two years. Between February and March the retraction was 7,93% and between March 2022 and the same month of this year it reached 21,8%. 

Wheat

Wheat producers in Santa Catarina are motivated by the good results achieved in the 2022/23 harvest, concluded in January. In this scenario, Epagri/Cepa expects an increase in the planted area in the state for the 2023/24 harvest, an expectation reinforced by the 10% per year growth in production, recorded in the last 10 years. 

In March, the average monthly price paid to wheat producers fell 1,42%, closing at R$84,53 per 60 kg bag. In the annual comparison, in nominal terms, the prices received this month are 13,47% below those recorded in the same month of 2022. 

Garlic

Santa Catarina's garlic harvest is in the process of being commercialized, but slowly and with prices below the production cost, in general. A similar situation is occurring in other countries, including Spain, China and Italy. 

In March, 12,07 thousand tons of garlic were imported, a 7,79% reduction in quantity compared to February. When comparing the first quarters of 2022 and 2023, there is an increase of 4,02% in the quantity imported. The main suppliers of vegetables to Brazil were Argentina (88,62% of the total) and China (1,19%).

Onion

Santa Catarina has already sold more than 85% of its onion production. With the end of the harvest, Epagri/Cepa consolidated the numbers for the 2022/23 harvest, closing in on a harvest of 551.225 tons, which keeps the State as the largest national producer of the vegetable.

In the first quarter of 2023, imports were 17.007 thousand tons, a volume 48,57% lower than in the same period last year.

In March, Cebolic growers from Santa Catarina received between R$1,80/kg and R$2,00/kg, in Rio do Sul, which indicates falling prices.