EN 
PT_BR 
The Institute for Strengthening Agriculture in Goiás (Ifag) has intensified monitoring of soybean planting in the 2025/26 season, given a scenario of widespread delays compared to the previous harvest and the historical average. As of Tuesday (28), progress in the State reached 15,96% of the 5 million hectares planned — well below the 36% recorded nationally —, which is already beginning to compromise the ideal calendar for the second corn crop in 2026.
According to Ifag, the slow pace is a direct result of the atypical water transition in October, marked by irregular rainfall and the influence of the La Niña phenomenon, which concentrates precipitation in short and uneven events. “Despite the end of the sanitary break on September 25th, many producers are waiting for greater regularity. Only in the last week, with volumes above 50 mm in key regions, did planting advance more consistently, reaching approximately 800,000 hectares,” explains Leonardo Machado, technical manager at Ifag.
The institute highlights that the Southwest of Goiás concentrates the greatest progress, with Montividiu (70% out of 135,200 ha), Rio Verde (50% out of 430,000 ha), Mineiros (40% out of 126,000 ha) and Chapadão do Céu (30% out of 100,000 ha) leading the pace. In the area surrounding the Federal District and in the Southeast of the state, conditions do not yet allow for a full start: Cristalina and Luziânia are around 3%, and municipalities such as Catalão and Silvânia remain paralyzed, waiting for more stable rainfall to ensure good emergence and stand uniformity.
Given this scenario, Ifag reinforces technical guidelines to mitigate risks. “We are recommending staggered planting and prioritization of medium- or early-cycle cultivars, especially to preserve the second corn crop window,” says Machado. “With the delay in soybean planting, there is a risk of pushing corn planting to the second half of February, which increases exposure to water deficit and adverse weather events during harvest.”
The producer's preference for second-crop corn — driven by the liquidity and diversity of marketing instruments, such as barter and price hedging — reinforces the importance of aligning with the calendar.
Ifag cautiously assesses national crop performance projections: while Conab estimates a 3.6% increase in soybean production (177.64 million tons), the Goiás institute projects a more conservative increase of 0.5% for the state, given regional climate uncertainties.
“Our analysis considers not only field data, but also the spatial variability of water conditions,” says Machado. “Conditions in Goiás remain predominantly favorable, with a low level of water restriction, but the first half of November will be critical for consolidating plant stand and soil moisture.”
Ifag maintains daily updates through technical bulletins, partnerships with rural unions, and digital platforms, with the goal of guiding producers' strategic decisions and strengthening the agricultural chain in Goiás based on accurate, real-time data.
