Conab: Irregular rains and high temperatures impact crops in some regions in Brazil

According to the analysis released by the Agricultural Monitoring Bulletin (BMA) on March 28 by the Brazilian National Supply Company (Conab), the weather conditions benefited the first and second harvest crops in most producing regions in the first week of March. 

The irregularity and scarcity of precipitation in parts of the Central-West, Southeast, and South regions have restricted the development of second-crop crops. Soil moisture remained stable in Mato Grosso, Goiás, Matopiba, and in parts of the states of Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, São Paulo, and Paraná. This favored the final phases and harvesting operations of first-crop crops, and the sowing and development of second-crop crops, the analysis revealed 

Reduced rainfall, associated with high temperatures, has caused water restrictions in second-crop crops in some areas of Mato Grosso do Sul, West and North of Paraná, in parts of São Paulo, North of Minas Gerais, Center-South and Center-North of Bahia. On the other hand, storms with strong winds and hail caused occasional damage to crops in Rio Grande do Sul.

The behavior of the Vegetation Index (IV) revealed the good performance of the first harvest in the South and Matopiba regions. In the other regions, the index was close to or below previous harvests reflecting an inferior performance, mainly due to water restrictions or excess rainfall at the beginning of the harvest.

Of particular note is the rise in the Second Harvest Crop Index, ahead of previous harvests in most regions.