In April, the production of cereals, legumes and oilseeds for 2019 was estimated at 231.5 million metric tons, 2.2% higher than the 2018 crop (5.0 million metric tons) and 0.6% more than in March (1.4 million more metric tons). The estimated area to be harvested was 62.3 million hectares, 2.2% higher than that of 2018 (1.4 million hectares) and 0.1% lower than the previous month (48.9 thousand hectares).

Rice, corn and soybeans represent 92.8% of the production estimate and account for 87.3% of the area to be harvested. In relation to 2018, there was an increase of 4.8% in the corn area and 2.0% in the soybean area, and a 10.0% drop in the rice area. On the other hand, production dropped by 4.4% for soybeans and 10.6% for rice, and there was a 12.6% increase for corn. The support material of the Systematic Survey of Agricultural Production (LSPA) is available on this page.

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The production of cereals, legumes and oilseeds was distributed like this: Central-West (103.7 million metric tons), South (77.4 million metric tons), Southeast (22.0 million metric tons), Northeast (19.0 million metric tons) and North (9.3 million metric tons). Compared with 2018, there were increases of 4.4% for the North, 2.7% in the Central-West and of 3.9% in the South, and decreases of 4.0% in the Southeast and of 0.7% in the Northeast.

Highlights in the April 2019 estimate in relation to March

In April, the highlights were the following percentage changes in production: upland cottonseed (1.8%), oat (4.2%), sugarcane (1.7%), cashew nut (5.2%), barley (14.9%),  corn 1st crop (0.4%), corn 2nd crop (0.7%), soybean (0.1%), sorghum (11.0%) and wheat (7.1%).

In absolute numbers, the highlights were for the changes: sugarcane
 (11 624 040 t), corn 2nd crop (446 257 t), wheat (363 308 t), sorghum (233 809 t), upland cottonseed (113 583 t) corn 1st crop (108 368), soybean (88 687 t), barley (46 350 t), oat (32 330 t) and cashew nuts (5 921 t). 

UPLAND COTTONSEED - The production estimate was of 6.4 million metric tons, an increase of 1.8% over March and a record in the IBGE´s time series. Bahia reported a growth of 5.7% in the production. The crops suffered from the lack of rainfall, yet the rainy season in February caused a productivity recovery. The estimated production in this state reached 1.5 million metric tons, corresponding to 22.8% of the crop to be harvested in Brazil this year.

In Mato Grosso, the largest national cotton producer, the estimate is  4.2 million metric tons, 29.0% bigger than in 2018, due to the growth of 36.3% in the planted area. In Bahia and Mato Grosso, the planted area is 24.3% ND 39.8% bigger, respectively. The average yield (4,065 kg/ha) presents retraction of 5.3%, due to weather issues. In 2018, the cotton crops benefited from the rainy weather, which positively affected the obtained average yield (4 293 kg/ha).

SUGARCANE - The estimated production was of 688.6 million metric tones, a rise of 1.7% over March. The return of the rainfall in some areas have brought recovery to sugar cane farmings, mainly those that will be harvested in the end of the harvesting period. The main alterations in April occurred in Minas Gerais and Mato Grosso do Sul, which increase their production by 15.0% and 3.1%, respectively. The increase in the planted area was the main reason of the production growth in those Federation Units.

Minas Gerais now had the second biggest sugarcane production (11.3% of the total produced in the country), followed by Goiás (11.1%). The production in Minas (77.6 million metric tons) is yet to be confirmed until the end f the harvesting period, is a record to the state , which observes a greater expansion of the farming between the years of 2008 and 2012. Compared with 2018, the production estimate grew 2.1%, with increase of 1.8% in the average yield. The more favorable weather this year and the adoption of new techniques, which protect the soil and tend to reduce the sprouting failure, have favored the sugarcane plantations. São Paulo is still the biggest national producer, (51.8% of the national production).

CASHEW NUTS - The estimated production was of 120.4 million metric tones, a rise of 5.2% over March. In Ceará, the biggest producer (53.8% of the total) production was revitalized by the 6.7% of growth due to the average yield that grew  at the same pace. Other important producers of cashew nuts are Piauí, with 24.7 thousand metric tons (20.5% of the national rate) and Rio Grande do Norte, with 16.8 thousand metric tons (13.9% of the total). Pernambuco reassessed it estimates this month, forecasting a rise of 70.4%, due to the increase in productivity of cashew trees, in response to the rainfalls that favored the development of the plants. In relation to 2018, the production of cashew nuts down fell 14.8%. The planted area (439.0 thousand hectares) reduced 4.6% and the average yield (280 kg/ha) fell 12.8%. In Ceará, the production in 2019 had decrease of 21.9%.

WINTER CEREALS (in grain) - Although the planted area presents decrease of 2.8%, the production of wheat was estimated at 5.5 million metric tons, a growth of 7.1% in relation to March. The national average yield (2,801) was estimated with a high of 10.1% in relation to the previous month.  For, Paraná, the greatest Brazilian producer (59.8% of the total), a production of 3.3 million metric tons was estimated. Production (12.8%) and average yield (19.1%) were also up in relation to March. As the second major Brazilian producer, Rio Grande do Sul (25.9% of the production) estimated an output of 1.4 million metric tons. The production estimate of 2019 is 3.9% bigger when compared to 2018.

The production estimate of oat was of 795.5 thousand metric tons, a rise of 4,2% in relation to March. The area to the planted grows 1.9%, expecting to reach 412.4 thousand hectares. The average yield, of 1,929 kg/ha, increases 2.3%.   IN Paraná, the production estimate increases 16.6%, while Mato Grosso do Sul, third biggest producer, must grow 13.2%. Oat production falls 10.6% in relation to the previous year.

For barley, the estimated production was of 357.4 thousand metric tones, a high of 14.9% over March. The planted area reaches 100.6 thousand hectares and the average yield (3,551 kg/ha) increases 13.9%. Paraná, biggest producer of this cereal, increase the estimate to 22.7% in relation to March. Production must get near 250 thousand metric tons. In relation to 2018, production raises 9.9%, although the planted area presents growth of only 0.2%.

CORN (in grain) - In relation to March, the production estimate grew 0.6%, totaling 91.6 million metric tons (554.6 thousand metric tons). It is 12.6% bigger in relation to 2018. In Corn 1st crop, the estimated production reached 25.8 million metric tons, an increase of 0.4% in relation to the previous month. The area to be harvested dropped 0.4%, but the average yield increased 0.9%. Paraná was the Federation Unit which most contributed to this increase. The output in Paraná is expected to reach 3.2 million metric tons, an increase of 2.0%. In Minas Gerais, the estimated production fell 1.1%, probably reaching 4.4 million metric tons.  In relation to 2018, the output estimate of corn 1st crop was 0.1% bigger. The planted area (4.9 million hectares) fell 1.0%.

Due to the soybean anticipated harvest period in 2019, the expectation is for a longer period for the "planting window" for corn 2nd crop, which must affect in a positive way the average yield, estimated for the current high of 10.7%, probably reaching 5.365 kg/ha. The production estimate is nearly 65.8 million metric tons, an increase of 0.7% in relation to March and of 18.3% in relation to 2018. The sharpest increases in production volume, in relation to the previous month, were estimates for Rondônia (18.9%, or 126.0 thousand metric tons), Mato Grosso do Sul (2.0% or 190.0 thousand metric tons), Federal District (28.8% or 54.0 thousand metric tons) and Goiás (0.3% or 21.8 thousand metric tons).

SOYBEANS (in grain) - In April, the estimated production of soybean was estimated at 112.6 million metric tones, a rise of 0.1% over March. The main drops were: Paraná (-0.5%), Minas Gerais (-1.1%) e Mato Grosso do Sul (-1.1%). Goiás (0.7%), Tocantins (2.1%) and Rondônia (18.0%) reported increases. Except for the area that encompasses "MATOPIBA", comprising the Cerrado Biome of Maranhão, Tocantins and Maranhão, in the other producing states, the soybean harvest is in the final phase. in relation to the previous year, despite the increase of 2.0% in the planted area, the production production estimate is 4.4% lower, due to the average yield, which presented decrease of 6.3%.

SORGHUM (grain) - The estimated production reached 2.4 million metric tons, an increase of 11.0% in relation to March. The highest increase in terms of volume was reported by Minas Gerais (207.303 metric tons) which represents 34.3% of the national total in this crop. In Goiás, the greatest producer of the country (43.2% of contribution) the estimate grew 0,7%, being expected to reach 1.0 million metric tons. In relation to 2018, there is high of 5.0%, although the planted area is reduced to 7.0%.