(NAFB) – Brazil’s safrinha or second crop corn has become major competition in the world export market.

It is second only to corn sourced from the United States.

Thirty years ago Brazil didn’t play on the world export market. Not even for soybeans. It is now the number one exporter of whole soybeans. A decade ago it didn’t really play in the world export market for corn. That’s changed, too, says University of Illinois Agricultural Economist Gary Schnitkey.

This expansion is directly related to soybean production in Brazil. The growing season there is long enough that farmers can grow full-season soybeans followed by corn. As soybean acreage has expanded in Brazil, it has also allowed safrinha corn acreage to expand. The same acre raises two crops per year for the export market; one soybean and one corn.