Maize Grain Monthly Update (Argentina) 2026-01

Early corn harvest in Entre Ríos has surpassed 56% of the planted 532,850 hectares for the 2025/26 season, driven by favorable rainfall and improved soil moisture. Despite a slight 3% yield decrease from the previous cycle, the average yield of 6,500 kg/ha is 33% above the five-year provincial average, reflecting a robust production outlook. Regional disparities are evident, with the southern region leading harvest progress at 80% but lower yields of 5,900 kg/ha due to dry spells, while the western region shows only 34% harvested but the highest yields at 7,500 kg/ha. Projected provincial production is 3.41 million tons after accounting for 8,000 hectares reserved for animal feed, marking an 82% increase over the 2024/25 season's 1.87 million tons. This rebound highlights early corn as a key agricultural driver in Entre Ríos, contingent on stable climatic conditions through harvest completion.

Pelayo, an agricultural company managing 70,000 hectares in La Pampa, has established a sustainability department led by agronomist Lucas Minetti to address soil degradation issues impacting crop yields. After observing stagnant yields and soil problems such as compaction, salinization, and erosion, the company adopted a new agronomic strategy involving soil certification and targeted interventions like cover cropping and tailored fertilization. This approach aims to reverse soil degradation, improve long-term productivity, and requires cooperation from landowners, especially as lease contracts are modified to support sustainable practices. Early results show positive changes within a year, highlighting the necessity of investing in soil health to maintain profitability amid rising input costs and yield stagnation.

Irrigated corn is gaining prominence in Northern Patagonia as a strategic crop to boost regional agricultural productivity and livestock integration. A technical meeting held on March 5th in Cervantes brought together producers, advisors, and experts to discuss maximizing yields through efficient irrigation and tailored agronomic practices. The region benefits from guaranteed water availability, low pest pressure, and favorable soil and climate conditions, enabling stable and high corn production. This development supports diversified farming systems, enhances forage availability for livestock, and promotes value addition at origin, contributing to local economic growth and job creation. The event also featured presentations of corn hybrids adapted to Patagonian conditions, emphasizing the crop's potential to strengthen mixed agricultural-livestock systems in an area traditionally dominated by fruit farming and extensive livestock.

The maize harvest in Argentina is progressing steadily, with 3.6% of the suitable area harvested, primarily in the North-Central region of Santa Fe, where early yields average 70.7 quintals per hectare. Harvest activities have expanded to the Northern and Southern Cores and North-Central Córdoba, while Entre Ríos is resuming after recent rains. Late maize plantings show a 6.6 percentage point improvement in water conditions, crucial as 94.1% of crops are at or beyond the flowering stage, a key period for yield determination. Overall, 87.6% of the surveyed maize area is rated between Normal and Excellent, supporting stable yield expectations. Consequently, the national maize production forecast remains unchanged at 57 million tons, pending climatic developments in the crop's final growth phase.

In 2025, Argentine agriculture experienced a significant shift towards digital bank financing, with a 90% year-on-year increase in processed operations and 88% of credit transactions conducted in U.S. dollars, up from 54% the previous year. This dollarization trend reflects producers' preference for currency stability amid reduced commercial credit availability. Input financing doubled compared to 2024, especially during the pre-campaign period, focusing on seeds, crop protection, and nutrition, while new credit lines for agricultural machinery emerged. Livestock financing grew by 22%, primarily in pesos, targeting genetics, cattle retention, and winter feed. Credit terms aligned closely with harvest cycles, with 60% of loans taken for 12 months, and grain collateral usage surged 68% year-on-year, underscoring grains’ growing role as financial assets. Overall, 2025 marked a more sophisticated, digital, and dollar-sensitive agricultural finance market in Argentina.

Mexican agronomist Prometeo Sánchez García highlighted soil compaction as the primary factor limiting soybean yields in Argentina during the Enbio bio-inputs conference. By measuring soybean plants in Junín, he estimated potential yield increases of 40 to 50% if soil compaction is addressed. Sánchez explained that soil compaction, mainly caused by natural processes like hydraulic load from rainfall, reduces oxygen availability to roots, leading to significant production losses—up to 40% in corn. He emphasized a technical sequence for yield improvement: first decompact the soil using organic acid-based products, then fertilize, and finally apply microorganisms, noting that biologicals alone cannot immediately resolve compaction issues. Sánchez also linked plant stress caused by compaction to reduced soybean yields, stating that relieving stress could raise yields from 1,500 to over 5,000 kilograms per hectare. His statements challenge the prevailing direct sowing practices by underscoring the need for active soil structure management to unlock higher productivity.

In January 2026, Argentine agricultural producer confidence reached 158 points, a 35% increase from January 2025, signaling historically high optimism. Investment in fixed assets rose by 14% over the last two months, marking the highest level since 2018, with 63% of producers viewing it as a good time to invest, particularly in livestock where 56% plan to allocate funds. Producers show financial caution, predominantly using their own funds (61%) and barter (49%), while only 17% rely on bank credit due to high interest rates. Despite cost pressures, with over half of soybean and corn income needed to cover expenses, producers remain optimistic, retaining grains in anticipation of better prices. Adoption of seed inoculants is widespread at 92%, while other biological inputs see 62% usage amid ongoing technical challenges. The sector’s positive outlook is anchored in firm prices and strong international demand, especially for livestock, focusing on increasing stock and calf finishing.

Santa Fe Province has introduced a renewed Stop System incorporating mandatory time bands to improve the flow of trucks in the agro-export complex, with the system set to become active on March 16. Starting April 15, fines will be imposed on transporters arriving outside a two-hour window from their scheduled shift, aiming to enhance logistical coordination and reduce regional congestion. The initiative, supported by CIARA-CEC, addresses longstanding infrastructure and coordination issues that had been neglected for over a decade. This strategic plan is critical for efficiently managing the export of key crops like maize, soybean, and wheat, involving 1,850 cargo givers and 68,000 producers nationwide. The province’s proactive approach is expected to facilitate timely processing and dispatch of shipments to over 120 countries, contributing to the success of the current harvest season.

Recent rainfall across Argentina's key agricultural regions has enhanced water conditions for major crops, supporting stable production forecasts. The soybean crop shows a 7 percentage point increase in Optimal/Adequate water conditions, with 74% of the area rated between Normal and Excellent, sustaining a production estimate of 48.5 million tons. Maize harvest is gaining momentum with 3.6% completed, average yields of 70.7 qq/Ha in Santa Fe, and a 6.6 percentage point improvement in water conditions for late maize, maintaining a 57 million ton projection. Sunflower harvest has reached 31%, with yields exceeding the five-year average in several regions and a stable production forecast of 6.2 million tons. Grain sorghum sowing is complete, with 85.8% of the area in Normal to Excellent condition as crops progress through reproductive stages, awaiting favorable water availability for grain filling.

Argentina's agro-industrial sector contributed to a 4.4% economic growth in 2025 despite challenges in the industrial sector. Agricultural input costs increased, with Argentina becoming more expensive in 7 out of 13 categories, and diesel prices surpassing the regional average by 21%. Additionally, corn weevil infestations have intensified during mid-summer, with high-density outbreaks reported in multiple regions. Livestock financing in dollars has resumed, with outstanding debt nearing USD 1.133 billion.