Grain-bearing millet gains strength in the 2nd crop in one of the riskiest years for corn

The irregularity of rainfall in the Midwest has once again dominated the planning of the 2nd crop season. Between November and January, various regions recorded precipitations 20% to 45% below the historical average, according to data from Inmet. The MATOPIBA and part of Mato Grosso do Sul were the most affected, alternating long dry spells with concentrated rainfall in short periods. The delay in planting soybeans, with areas entering the field up to 20 days later than ideal, shrank the operational window for corn, pushing the start of planting to times of higher water risk. In Mato Grosso, for example, data from IMEA show that the sowing of second-crop corn should advance to after February 25 in most regions, just when the climate risk curve rises. The combination of these factors led many producers to reconsider the exclusive dependence on corn. The 23/24 crop season had already shown the impact of this displacement: significant losses in the second corn crop in areas planted ...