<article><p class="lead">Irregular Brazilian soybean sowing patterns caused by a late start have raised concern about the crop's development should unfavorable weather develop in the coming months.</p><p>Planting for the 2019-20 soybean crop had a rocky start in September and early October because of a lack of rainfall in the main producing regions, but improved weather since then helped offset the slow start. This more concentrated sowing schedule has raised concern that any challenging weather, such as drought or excessive rain, may impact the crop with the same intensity, given the similar crop development, eventually leading to widespread losses. </p><p>The concentrated planting time frame, instead of more gradual, phased-in planting, is highlighted in Brazil's southern state of Parana, the country's second-largest producer of soybean. Between mid-September and mid-October, about one-third of the 5.5mn hectares (13.6mn acres) of expected area was planted, compared to almost 50pc a year ago.</p><p>Since then, planting has accelerated and is nearly complete, according to the Parana Department of Rural Economics (Deral-PR).</p><p>"When the planting is too concentrated in a short period, risks are higher," Deral-PR specialist Marcelo Garrido said. "It becomes more susceptible to climatic problems during its development... And the harvest is more concentrated as well, so if there is too much rain, it is bad, because it impacts the oilseed quality." </p><p>Soybean planting across the country, the global top exporter of the oilseed, is reported to have surpassed two-thirds of the expected area this week, according to some agricultural consultancies.</p><p>Brazilian agricultural statistics agency (Conab) forecasts soybean acreage reaching 36.7mn ha in the current 2019-20 cycle in Brazil, with the harvest pegged at a record of nearly 121mn metric tonnes.</p><h2>Corn at risk</h2><p>The delay in soybean planting is expected to hamper winter corn sowing, which takes place after the oilseed harvest, usually through the first quarter of the year. The trend suggests a segment of the so-called "safrinha" (little harvest) of corn will be planted outside of the ideal window, which <b>ends in</b> March in many regions.</p><p>If planted outside of this window, the second corn crop may be exposed to unfavorable weather conditions, such as less rainfall or freezes, depending on the region.</p><p>Summer conditions in Brazil, which extends from December through March, for now are expected to be within normal ranges, which should have only minor impact on soybean planting. But the second corn crop may not see rainfall until June, like last year when output reached a record, said meteorologist Marco Antonio dos Santos, from Rural Clima consultancy.</p><p>That points to more risks regarding the safrinha, which accounts for more than two-thirds of the entire national corn production. Brazil's Conab expects winter corn output at nearly 71mnt in 2019-20, a 3.1pc decrease from the prior year. Total corn production is estimated at around 98.4mn t.</p><p class="lead"><i>By Jose Gomes</i></p></article>
