The weather conditions favor the harvest of the three main summer crops in Rio Grande do Sul. This week, according to Emater's Economic Information, in addition to corn, which already has 35% of the harvested area, the machines started to collect the ripe rice grains , at 2% of the planted area, and soybeans, at 1%. At the same time, corn and soybean prices are down compared to previous weeks. Rice remains above average for this time of year.
According to Emater, the first soybean crops were harvested in the Missões, with a productivity of 50 bags per hectare. The work will intensify from now on, as other 10% in the area are mature. Production estimated by Emater is 15.8 million tons. The price of a 60-kilo bag reached R$ 65.47 this week. Last week it was R$ 66.51, while the historical average for February is R$ 72.18.
“I believe that the price may fall a little more due to supply pressure, as we will have a very good harvest in practically all states”, assesses the president of the Soybean Producers Association (Aprosoja/RS), Luis Fernando Fucks. He considers that the recovery in values should occur from May onwards. “Unfortunately, not all soybean farmers will be able to hold the harvest until then.”
Corn, which now has its harvest accelerated to avoid logistical problems with the arrival of the soybean harvest, also has falling prices, being sold below R$ 28 per bag in some regions of the State. This amount only covers production costs, according to the president of the Corn Producers Association (Apromilho/RS), Cláudio Luiz de Jesus. The Emater survey showed that this week's average price is R$ 27.67, below the February historical series of R$ 33.55. Corn production in the State is projected at 5.6 million tons.
The price behavior of rice is different. The average price for the week is R$ 48.53, above the R$ 42.54 in the historical series. Irga's commercial director, Tiago Barata, explains that the maintenance of prices has to do with low stocks of the product, a small delay in the start of the harvest due to low temperatures at the beginning of the cycle and forecast of production within normality, of 8.3 million tons, according to Emater. “It will be a year of supply adjusted to demand. At harvest prices tend to fall, but we believe that the devaluation will be less intense”, he assesses.
