In response to persistently dry weather conditions, soy farmers in Brazil’s leading agricultural state, Mato Grosso, are opting to replace soy with cotton or alternative crops, according to reports from cotton lobby groups and growers in the region.
Decio Tocantins, a director at the Mato Grosso Cotton Growers’ Association (AMPA), emphasized the adverse impact of insufficient rainfall on soy farming, leading to a noticeable shift in crop choices among soy farmers. This trend is expected to result in a substantial expansion of the cotton planting area in 2023.
Traditionally, Mato Grosso plants two cotton crops annually, one in conjunction with the soy season and another following soy harvest. However, Tocantins revealed that, due to the dry conditions affecting soy cultivation, the initial cotton planting is projected to surge from the typical 10-13% to an unprecedented 20% of Mato Grosso’s total plantings for the upcoming season.
AMPA’s chief anticipates an 8% increase in the total cotton area, reaching approximately 1.3 million hectares for the 2023/24 season. This surge is attributed to soy farmers contemplating a shift to cotton or even corn if soy cultivation becomes economically unviable.
Alexandre Schenkel, head of the national cotton lobby Abrapa, disclosed that some farmers are considering planting only one crop, reflecting a growing trend amid economic challenges in soy farming. Reports indicate that farmers are actively preparing the soil for cotton or corn, and instances of soybean areas being destroyed due to low yields are on the rise.
Local growers, such as Jose Fernandes in Mato Grosso’s municipality of Sapezal, reported the destruction of poorly performing soybeans and mentioned neighbors’ actions in gearing up for cotton or corn cultivation. Claudio Scarioti projected a potential 20% loss for soy in the area and highlighted that farmers would reassess the damage after anticipated rains in the coming week.
In terms of planting schedules, the initial cotton crop typically begins in the south of Mato Grosso on December 1 and in the mid-north region on December 15, according to Tocantins. The state, responsible for two-thirds of Brazil’s annual cotton lint production, equivalent to two million tons, faces a challenging agricultural landscape due to the prevailing dry weather conditions, as reported by AMPA data.
