Brazil Soybean Expedition closely follows soybean planting

The Brazil Soy Expedition continues its journey through the south of the country and the news for soybeans in Santa Catarina is good. Soybean planting in the state’s largest producing region is in full development, with planting underway and encouraging forecasts for the 2024/25 cycle. The crops in Campos Novos, the municipality that concentrates the largest soybean production in Santa Catarina, are in full implementation and the work continues until January.

Strategies adopted

The producer Chico plants at different times of the year to face climatic variations and ensure a more stable harvest. He explains that staggered sowing, with sowing of early and late varieties, allows crops to flower at different times of the cycle, between December and February. This helps minimize the impacts of adverse climatic factors and ensures greater stability for the harvest. The practice of planting soybeans at different times, combined with precise management, has been a differentiator in the search for greater stability on farms.

Growth and good productivity

For this soybean harvest, the projected area for soybean cultivation in Santa Catarina is around 766,000 hectares, which represents a small improvement compared to the last harvest. Productivity expectations are good and so far climatic conditions have favored crop development. Epagri projects a harvest of 3 million tons, which represents an increase of almost 13% compared to the previous cycle. For many producers, this promises to be a recovery harvest, after three consecutive years of climatic problems, such as droughts in summer and excessive cold in winter.

Recovery and favorable climate for soybeans

Farmers are optimistic about this year’s weather conditions, which have been much more cooperative than in recent cycles. The president of Aprosoja SC, Alexandre Di Domenico, highlights: “The climate is helping and it was what everyone expected, since we have had three consecutive years of climate problems. Finally, we are seeing a return to normality and this brings great prospects for the harvest.” The favorable climate allows maintaining the planting cycle and the appropriate window for planting, increasing expectations for the future of soybeans in Santa Catarina, especially in the Planalto Sul, Planalto Norte and Oeste regions of the state.

Investments in soybean production

Another positive fact is the growth of seed production in Santa Catarina, especially in Campos Novos. The region has 53,000 hectares dedicated to the production of soybeans, which contributes to the increase in the area planted in the state. In fact, soybeans have replaced corn in some areas, resulting in a 10% increase in soybean production in the region. Producers are confident and are betting on good climate prospects and investments in culture. Soybeans have become one of the main crops in the region, and many farmers are expanding their planting areas, seeking to take advantage of the good conditions to obtain high productivity.

Technology in the field

Technology has been an important ally for soybean producers in Santa Catarina, allowing more efficient crop management. The use of machines equipped with remote control systems and real-time monitoring facilitates the management of soybeans, which guarantees precision in the application of inputs and control of the machines in the field.

With this, the amount of seeds sown, the use of fertilizers and even the distribution of nutrients in the crops can be monitored in detail, which results in better results and greater productivity. Average production in the region has reached 80 bags per hectare, a clear indication that technologies are helping to improve crop productivity and efficiency.