The Mato Grosso Institute of Agricultural Economics (Imea) has kept its November projection of second-crop (safrinha) corn planting area stable at 6.79 million hectares. However, this figure remains 0.14% lower than the area cultivated in the 2023/24 season. This slight reduction is attributed to concerns about weather conditions, which have already delayed soybean planting.
According to Imea’s report, “This scenario is driven by uncertainties around the climate for this cycle, which have already caused delays in soybean sowing. As a result, the corn crop is expected to be planted on fewer hectares within the ‘ideal’ planting window, as soybean harvesting is likely to be delayed in the state.”
Additionally, Imea notes that despite recent increases in corn prices, farmers continue to face tight profit margins, discouraging further investment in corn cultivation.
Productivity expectations remain at 111.74 bags per hectare, reflecting steady forecasts from Imea’s initial release. Factors such as climate variability, pest pressures, and disease remain potential threats to crop yield.
Overall, with stable planting area and productivity expectations, the 2024/25 corn crop production forecast stands at 45.54 million tons, reflecting a 3.47% decrease from the previous cycle.
