How to minimize damage from delayed cotton planting
Rains in recent weeks make sowing difficult in Mato Grosso; there are alternatives to deal with the problems
Santa Catarina may harvest a record corn crop, with productivity above the historical average and numbers higher than Epagri's initial projections. Despite the 11,3% reduction in the cultivated area, the new estimate points to a production of between 2,3 million and 2,4 million tons, surpassing the previous forecast of 2,2 million tons. The data comes from Giro da Safra, a survey conducted by Epagri in partnership with Sicoob Central SC/RS, which visited 65 properties in 12 cities in the west of Santa Catarina to evaluate crops in the pre-harvest phase.
The average production in some municipalities was over 200 bags per hectare. In the city of Faxinal dos Guedes, one of the areas assessed reached 270 bags per hectare. The Harvest Tour is still underway in municipalities where crops have not yet reached physiological maturity, such as Campo Erê and Abelardo Luz, which will still have areas visited by the project.
“Preliminary figures indicate a possibly record harvest, with productivity well above the historical average. Consequently, we must revise the figures upwards, both in terms of productivity and total production,” said Haroldo Tavares Elias, socioeconomic analyst at Epagri/Cepa. The specialist explains that favorable weather conditions, with rainfall well distributed throughout the cycle, were decisive for the recovery of agricultural performance, especially after initial difficulties, such as temperatures below 15°C and frost in August 2024.
“High production costs, fear of leafhopper attacks and low initial prices impacted producers’ planning for this harvest. However, the increase in average productivity should offset the smaller planted area,” says Haroldo. In relation to the market, prices paid to producers in 2024 were only higher than those recorded in 2019 and 2023. However, the appreciation at the end of the year points to a recovery in 2025.
The advancement of agriculture in Santa Catarina relies on the support of Sicoob, which is a reference in the promotion of agribusiness, as it is the largest private investor in the segment and the second largest among financial institutions. “We are looking directly at the communities and rural producers, who face constant challenges. This survey brings us even closer to this reality, as accurate information helps us grant credit and improve products such as rural insurance and financing in a more assertive manner”, highlighted Rodinei Munaretto, Agribusiness Manager at Sicoob Central SC/RS.
Epagri President Dirceu Leite emphasized the importance of the partnership between Epagri and Sicoob to ensure that producers have access to reliable and timely data to create more efficient agricultural planning. “Producers need accurate data at the right time. The sooner this information arrives, the better they can plan. Field research conducted with visits to several properties and detailed analyses helps to improve production and productivity estimates,” he concluded.
Receive the latest agriculture news by email
Receive the latest agriculture news by email