Heavy rains in recent weeks in important producing regions of the country, especially in Mato Grosso, Brazil's largest grain producer, have hampered the progress of the soybean harvest and raised an alert among producers. There have been more than 30 days of frequent rainfall, a scenario that has led 17 municipalities in the state to declare a state of emergency. In the most affected areas, producers report losses that could reach up to 251 TP4T of production.<\/p>\n
According to a survey by the grain measurement technology sector, soybeans harvested in regions of northern Mato Grosso have recorded moisture peaks between 26% and 28%, an increase of approximately 20% in the water content present in the grain at the time of harvest compared to the standard considered ideal for the operation.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\nAgricultural engineer Roney Smolareck: "When soybeans remain in the field for extended periods after reaching harvest time, excess moisture can initiate germination while the plant is still on it."<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The information was obtained through the Moisture Management System (SGU), which tracks drying operations and grain monitoring in storage units. Normally, producers harvest with moisture levels between 18% and 22%; however, in the most recent monitoring, averages close to 21% were observed, in addition to peaks between 26% and 28%, with even higher isolated readings during the rainiest period in regions such as Marcel\u00e2ndia.<\/p>\n
According to agricultural engineer Roney Smolareck, this excess moisture can become one of the main risks to crop quality and the final price received by the producer. \u201cWhen soybeans remain in the field for extended periods after reaching harvest time, excess moisture can initiate germination while the plant is still on it. In this process, the grain begins to consume its reserves, which reduces its commercial value and can lead to discounts in sales,\u201d he states.<\/p>\n
Excessive rainfall also impacts the second corn crop schedule. Since planting the second corn crop depends on clearing areas occupied by soybeans, delays in harvesting end up reducing the ideal planting window. \u201cIn many regions, the soil remains waterlogged for several days, preventing the entry of agricultural machinery. So, often, the producer would even like to harvest, but the machines cannot enter the area because of the soil conditions. This delay ends up affecting the planting of the second corn crop and the quality of the soybeans, because the longer they remain in the field, the greater the risk of degradation,\u201d explains the agronomist.<\/p>\n
High humidity increases post-harvest costs.<\/strong><\/p>\n Photo: Mateus Dias\/Aprosoja MT<\/p>\n<\/div>\n In addition to impacting the crop, increased moisture also puts pressure on the entire post-harvest chain. When grain arrives at storage facilities with moisture levels above 26%, the volume of water to be removed practically doubles compared to a harvest carried out within the normal moisture range. In practice, this means longer residence time in dryers, higher energy consumption, and greater operational pressure on storage facilities.<\/p>\n During the grading and marketing phase, excess water also affects the financial outcome of the harvest. After drying, the net weight of the batch is reduced, and the discounts applied in negotiations tend to be greater, since the producer needs to remove an additional volume of moisture from the grain.<\/p>\n An increase of approximately 30% was also identified in operations exclusively dedicated to moisture removal. The analysis was generated by comparing the operational data of this cycle with the historical data recorded by the meters and by monitoring the SGU system integrated with the drying process monitoring.<\/p>\n The increase highlights how the above-average rainfall has altered the dynamics of the harvest in Mato Grosso. In years considered normal, drying is already a critical post-harvest stage. In this cycle, it has become even more strategic to guarantee grain quality, reduce losses, and maintain the flow of soybean sales.<\/p>\n Humidity control<\/strong><\/p>\n Photos: Jaelson Lucas\/AEN Archive<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Given increasingly unstable climate scenarios, monitoring tools have gained importance both in decision-making in the field and in preserving the value of production. For Smolareck, monitoring grain moisture helps producers act more precisely. \u201cWhen producers measure moisture, they can identify which areas of the crop have the best harvesting conditions at that moment. This allows them to prioritize plots with a lower risk of deterioration, preserving grain quality and, consequently, the final commercial value,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n To preserve soybean quality and ensure greater profitability, the technical recommendation is that harvesting should occur when the grain moisture content is between 13% and 14%. Therefore, portable measuring equipment allows this assessment to be done directly in the field, quickly and efficiently. \u201cWhen the producer knows the exact moisture level of the soybeans, they have more confidence to negotiate. If the grain is within the ideal standard, this information helps to avoid undue discounts and preserve the value of the grain in the market. In a scenario of losses caused by rain, measurement becomes an important tool to reduce the financial impact of the harvest,\u201d points out Smolareck.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/opresenterural.com.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/soja-Foto-Mateus-Dias-Aprosoja-MT.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1\")
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