Sep 11, 2025
Initial Soybean Planting in Brazil Slowed Due to Dry Conditions
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
The initial 2025/26 soybean planting is slowly getting underway in Brazil. AgRural reported that 0,02% of the 2025/26 soybeans had been planted as of late last week.
A few fields may already be planted in parts of Parana where there is adequate soil moisture. The weather in Mato Grosso is currently hot and dry, and the rainfall is not expected to pick up until the end of September and into early October. The overall soybean planting is not expected to accelerate until the end of September or early October. This is similar to what occurred in 2024.
Parana Soybeans - Initial soybean planting got underway in parts of the state of Parana starting September 1st. Limited planting has occurred in southern Parana, whereas in northern Parana, it remains hot and dry with inadequate soil moisture to start planting.
The Department of Rural Economics (Deral) is estimating that farmers will plant 5.8 million hectares of soybeans in 2025/26 (14.3 million acres), an increase of 1% year-on-year. Soybean yields are projected at 3,800 kg/ha (56.6 bu/ac) compared to 3,670 kg/ha in 2024/25 (54.6 bu/ac). The 2025/26 soybean production is estimated at 22 million tons, up 4% compared to last year.
Mato Grosso Soybeans - Farmers in Mato Grosso were allowed to start planting their soybeans as of September 7th. Soil moisture is very short in the state and there is limited rainfall in the near-term forecast. The few farmers with irrigation will start planting right away, whereas farmers without irrigation, which is the vast majority, will have to wait for significant rainfall before they risk planting their soybeans. Meteorologists are not expecting significant rainfall in the state until the end of September or early October.
Safras & Mercado - Safras & Mercado estimated last Friday that Brazil could produce 180.92 million tons of soybeans in 2025/26, counting on a recovery in production in Rio Grande do Sul. This would represent an increase of 5.3% over their estimate of 179.8 million tons in 2024/25. As a reference, the USDA is estimating a production of 175 million tons for 2025/26 and 169 million tons for 2024/25.