South America Calling

With Brazil's second-crop corn two-thirds planted, farmers are focusing on what kind of weather they can expect.

The good news is that the absence of the El Nino and La Nina weather phenomena favors winter rains, the bad news is these conditions also increase the risk of cold snaps across the south in June, according to Paulo Etchichury of Somar Meterologia, a local weather service.

This is particularly problematic as planting in Parana, the main second-crop corn state in the south, is behind schedule -- only 57% complete compared with 64% at the same stage in 2012.

Frost is just one of the many risks involved in planting corn in the winter.

In the sweltering center-west cold nights aren't an issue, but rains typically stop in April and May, making it imperative that farmers plant before the end of February.

This week, the Mato Grosso Agronomic Economy Institute (IMEA) warned farmers that planting second-crop corn in March perhaps isn't worth the risk with costs rising and corn prices sliding over the past couple of months.

Mato Grosso farmers had planted 88% of a projected 6.7 million acres up to last Friday.

Brazil enjoyed a bumper winter corn harvest last year, but there is no guarantee that will be repeated.

(AG)

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