EN 
PT_BR 
Producers in the far west of Santa Catarina project harvesting an average of 200.1 sacks of corn per hectare in the 2025/26 crop season. This estimate is the result of a preliminary survey presented at the first stage of the Crop Tour, held in São Miguel do Oeste, and consolidates a scenario of high productivity in the region.
To date, 70 crops have been evaluated, out of a projected universe of 87 properties distributed across municipalities such as Belmonte, Caibi, Cunha Porã, Descanso, Dionísio Cerqueira, Guaraciaba, Iporã do Oeste, Maravilha, Palmitos, Pinhalzinho, São José do Cedro, and Saudades.
Preliminary data shows above-average performance in some locations. Pinhalzinho leads with 219.3 sacks per hectare, followed by Cunha Porã with 216.4 sacks, and Guaraciaba with 215.1 sacks per hectare.
According to Walmir Kretschmer, research assistant at Epagri/Cepa, the consolidated figures will be presented at regional meetings with producers and cooperatives. The proposal aims to outline strategies that help support public policies and agricultural practices that optimize grain production in the state.
The president of Epagri, Dirceu Leite, emphasizes the strategic importance of corn for the state. "The corn production estimates are highly relevant for Santa Catarina, a state heavily dependent on this grain, especially to sustain the animal production chain," he states.
He emphasizes that the indicators allow the government and the productive sector to develop strategies to strengthen cultivation.
The survey also measured agronomic parameters in addition to final productivity. The closeness between the estimated productivity and that reported by the producers was indicated as a sign of methodological consistency. Among the technical criteria evaluated were plantability, precision in seed distribution in the furrow, with uniformity of spacing and depth, and the soil compaction index, a factor that directly influences root development and productive potential.
Corn production
During the presentation event, researchers discussed the impact of conservation practices on the sustainability of production systems, relating proper soil management to yield stability.
The data gains relevance in a context of reduced cultivated area in the state. In the last 10 years, the corn area in Santa Catarina has shrunk by about 30%, going from 371,000 hectares in 2015/16 to 258,000 hectares in 2025/26, pressured by competition with soybeans and by limitations on agricultural expansion.
Despite this, the state has been registering advances in productivity. In the 2024/25 harvest, Santa Catarina reached 9,350 kilograms per hectare, the highest level in the historical series. Municipalities such as Campo Erê, with 12,953 kg/ha, Faxinal dos Guedes and Abelardo Luz stood out in performance.
The preliminary results from the Far West reinforce this trend: less area, but greater technical efficiency, supported by more precise management and more detailed agronomic monitoring.
The survey was conducted with the support of Unoesc, Epagri/Cedup, Cooper A1, Cooper Itaipu, Auriverde, Alfa, Afulra, and Sicoob Insurance. The second stage of the Crop Tour will take place on March 25th in Campos Novos.
