Corn productivity rises more than 60% in Mato Grosso do Sul.

The 2024/2025 second corn crop showed positive results for the agribusiness of Mato Grosso do Sul, driven by favorable weather conditions. According to data from the Siga-MS project, executed by Aprosoja/MS in partnership with the State Government, the average productivity increased from 67,05 to 108,4 sacks per hectare (ha) this season, an increase of 61,7%.

At the same pace, total production reached 13,9 million tons, representing a 64,8% increase compared to the second crop of 2023/2024. The total area reached 2,1 million hectares, an increase of only 1,9% compared to the previous year, reinforcing the productive efficiency adopted on the farms. 

Productivity by region

The field survey conducted by the Aprosoja/MS technical team between May and October monitored 1,3 properties, covered 29,8 kilometers, and recorded 34,2 GPS points, covering 1,2 million hectares. The work indicated that the Northern Region, responsible for 11% of the total planted area in the state, concentrated the best average productivity, with emphasis on the municipalities of Alcinópolis, with 173,79 sc/ha; Chapadão do Sul, with 167,08 sc/ha; Costa Rica, with 163,38 sc/ha; São Gabriel do Oeste, with 157,07 sc/ha; and Paraíso das Águas, with 146,6 sc/ha.

The municipalities of Brasilândia, Cassilândia, Paranaíba, Selvíria, Rio Negro, Pedro Gomes, Sonora, Aparecida do Taboado, Ribas do Rio Pardo, Bandeirantes, Camapuã, Douradina, Maracaju, Santa Rita do Pardo, Três Lagoas, Aral Moreira, Coxim, Rio Brilhante, Itaporã, and Sidrolândia also showed productivity above the state average and contributed significantly to the total production.

The distribution of production and cultivated area showed concentration in some strategic centers, with Maracaju at the top of the ranking in terms of area, with 267,4 hectares and a production of 1,84 million tons; followed by Sidrolândia, with 180,9 ha and 1,18 million tons; Ponta Porã, with 177,1 ha and 1,13 million tons; and Dourados, with 175,6 ha and 1,11 million tons, totaling 36% of all corn harvested in the state. 

According to Flavio Aguena, technical advisor for Aprosoja/MS, the results reflect technological advancements and the producers' planning capacity. "Despite isolated instances of drought and frost, overall, the weather was very favorable at crucial moments in corn development. In addition, the adoption of strategic planning, with climate analysis, staggered planting, appropriate cultivars, and irrigation, brought more security to the field and contributed to the increased productivity we achieved." 

Harvest ended late.

The planting of the second corn crop was completed in April, slightly behind schedule, but still within part of the favorable weather window for crop development. The harvest ended in September, approximately two weeks later than the previous cycle.

According to Mato Grosso do Sul's crop history, this is only the second time in the last 10 years that average productivity has exceeded 100 sacks per hectare. The last time this milestone was reached was in the 2023 harvest, when the state produced 14,2 million tons on 2,3 million hectares.