Summer harvest in SC: soybeans will occupy the largest planted area in the state, followed by corn

The Center for Socioeconomics and Agricultural Planning at Epagri (Cepa) launched this Thursday, the 14th, the initial estimates of the 2023/2024 summer harvest. The product that should have the largest planted area is soybeans (1st harvest). The crop is expected to occupy 744,6 thousand hectares, with an estimated production of 2,9 million tons. This represents an increase of 1,7% compared to the last harvest.

The estimates were presented by the socioeconomic and agricultural planning analyst at Epagri/Cepa, Haroldo Tavares Elias. According to a survey by this research center, corn should occupy more than 540 thousand hectares, a reduction of 2,1%. Of this amount, 233,2 thousand hectares should be planted for silage and 308,5 thousand hectares for grain harvesting. The estimated production of corn grains is 2,7 million tons, 1,2% higher than in the previous harvest due to the increase in productivity.

Check out other crops monitored by Epagri/Cepa:

Rice

Irrigated rice is expected to maintain the cultivated area (around 145,7 thousand hectares), as well as productivity of around 8,6 tons/ha. Cultivation of this grain began in September in the State, which accounts for 30% of the planted area. Estimated production is 1,2 million tons.

Bean

Beans, contrary to a scenario of continuous decline in cultivated area, will increase this year by around 5%. Productivity remains stable at two tons/ha and forecast production is 64,9 thousand tons.

fruit growing

Regarding fruits, apples are expected to increase the area to be harvested by around 3% and increase productivity by 7%, with production estimated at 594 thousand tons. The increase in area occurred mainly in São Joaquim, which is the largest producer in Santa Catarina. Bananas will see a drop in production of around 7% with a decrease in average productivity due to climate factors, expected to reach 655 thousand tons.

More accurate estimates

Haroldo made a point of highlighting the advancement of technologies to estimate the cultivation area in Santa Catarina, which uses mapping via satellite images, as is the case with soybeans, irrigated rice and apples. “With this we have more accurate data, mainly related to the cultivation area and productivity, which are important data for the agribusiness sector and also to assist public policies”, explains the analyst, informing that the next crop to be mapped with images satellite should be corn.

Climate outlook

According to Epagri/Ciram meteorologist Marilene de Lima, the most prominent point in the weather forecast in Santa Catarina concerns the action of El Niño, which greatly alters weather conditions in spring and summer, when volumes are expected higher than average rainfall, occurrence of storms accompanied by electrical discharges (lightning), windstorms and hail. “Thunderstorms tend to be more frequent and when they occur, they should have greater impact,” she says.

Marilene explains that El Niño will make the weather hotter in SC, with temperatures close to or above 30 ºC on consecutive days. “Nocturnal periods will also have higher temperatures. In addition to rain, El Niño brings a lot of cloudiness to the State and, as a result, nighttime heat loss is not very efficient,” she says. The meteorologist also does not rule out days with milder temperatures when cold fronts arrive or at the beginning of spring, when frost may form in the highest areas of the Southern Santa Catarina Plateau. “But it will be a short-lived cold,” she reveals.