By Nayara Figueiredo
SAO PAULO, Feb 23 (Reuters) – Brazil could have a record corn crop of 108.2 million tonnes this season as farmers expand plantings amid good grain prices, according to the median forecast of a Reuters poll of 11 analysts released Tuesday.
The corn acreage will grow by about 1 million hectares to 19.44 million hectares (48 million acres), according to the survey.
Although a quarter of Brazil’s second corn crop is expected to be planted outside the ideal climate window, total production will be 5.54% higher than last season’s record estimated by the Government at 102.5 million euros. tons, according to the average of analyst forecasts.
The second corn crop will account for about 80% of Brazil’s total production this year, making the South American giant competitive with the United States in export markets.
“We estimate that there will be a significant increase in the area planted with corn, which would mitigate the effects of possible yield losses in the second crop,” said Daniely Santos, market analyst at Céleres.
Brazil’s second-tier corn is planted in the same area as soybeans after harvest, but delays affecting oilseed harvesting this season are pushing farmers to plant some second-tier corn outside the climate window. ideal.
(Edited in Spanish by Javier Leira)
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