May 24, 2011

 

Brazilian crops also affected by poor weather

 

 

Brazil has been added to the list of major producing countries suffering weather scares, with a lack of rain threatening the loss of up to three million tonnes of corn in the country.

 

Up to one-half of the so-called "safrinha" corn crop, also called the winter or second harvest, could be under threat in some areas of central Brazil thanks to the early onset of the dry season, analysts said.

 

The impact of the premature dry season which started in mid-April, some three weeks ahead of schedule - has been heightened by farmers' decision to sow corn late, after a delayed harvest of summer crops.

 

Farmers in central Brazil were seeding corn three-to-four weeks after the ideal window closed on February 20, but were encouraged into late sowings by government concessions on cut-off dates for crop insurance claims.

 

"Everyone knew there was a potential problem, but had their fingers crossed that it would rain into June, as it did two years ago," another analyst said. "Unfortunately, it has not worked out that way."

 

About half the crop was planted "too late, and the soil moisture supplies have run out before the grain-fill process is completed".

 

The setback has left Brazil facing the loss of up to three million tonnes of safrinha corn, analysts said, whose own forecast of a 52-million tonne crop in 2010-11, main and second crops combined - compares with an estimate of 55 million tonnes by Conab, Brazil's official crop bureau.

 

The warning follows a caution from Brazil-based crop consultant Kory Melby that the harvest in Mato Grosso, which is responsible for about one-third of safrinha plantings, would come in at six million tonnes, 1.5 million tonnes below the Conab estimate.

 

"The local rule of thumb is never plant second crop corn after February 25. However, many did," Melby said. There has been "no rain since April 10", he said, adding that the situation was "getting ugly".

 

Brazil's dry spell adds the country to a list including Canada, the US, Europe and, increasingly the former Soviet Union, where weather extremes are causing alarm in grain markets.

 

However, there are some forecasts of rain for dry areas of northern Europe later in the week, with the potential for drier weather from next weekend in regions of the US where farmers struggling against wet conditions to get crops sown.