Irregular weather and pests affect corn productivity in Mato Grosso

The second corn harvest in Mato Grosso is facing difficulties due to a combination of climatic factors and problems with pest control. Planting outside the ideal window, caused by delays in the soybean harvest, has worsened the situation. The lack of rain during the critical period and the increase in caterpillar infestations are compromising the production potential. Approximately 15% of the cultivated area was sown outside the recommended period. The information is from Aprosoja MT.

According to the Mato Grosso Institute of Agricultural Economics (IMEA), the use of high-yield seed technologies, which are expensive, has not proven effective in this cycle. Diego Bertuol, the entity's administrative director and coordinator of the Agricultural Policy Commission, explains that producers were caught by surprise.

“The producer opts for more expensive technologies, but this year, they did not meet expectations. This increased production costs, which was already a challenge for producers with tight margins,” he comments.

Harvest planning was also hampered by the late acquisition of inputs. Caution in the application of fertilizers, especially phosphate, further impacts productivity.

“Many producers have reduced their use of fertilizers, especially phosphate, which has been reduced by 50% in some areas. Nitrogen has been reduced by less, by 10% to 30%,” Bertuol points out.

Irregular rainfall has also been a determining factor in the performance of the harvest. According to the Aproclima program, from Aprosoja Mato Grosso, municipalities such as Confresa, Matupá, Guiratinga, Água Boa and Nova Xavantina, in critical regions of the state, suffered long periods without precipitation. In Confresa, the period without rain reached 27 days, which harmed the development of crops in the critical stage of corn growth.

Despite the prolonged drought, crops are beginning to stabilize with recent rains, according to Diego Dallasta, east vice president of Aprosoja MT.

In addition to the lack of rain, caterpillar control has been one of the biggest challenges for producers. Widely used pest control technologies have shown flaws, forcing farmers to apply pesticides repeatedly.

Gilson Antunes de Melo, vice-president of the west and vice-coordinator of the Agricultural Defense Commission of Aprosoja MT, reinforces that the problem with caterpillars is widespread.

“The decline in the efficiency of biotechnologies for pest control has led producers to increase applications, which increases costs and reduces productivity,” explains Melo.

(Learn more about some caterpillars by clicking: "Elasmopalpus lignosellus", "Helicoverpa armigera" e "Spodoptera frugiperda")