Aug 27, 2025
Buenos Aires Exchange - Corn Acreage in Argentina to Increase 9.6%
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
The Buenos Aires Grain Exchange is estimating that farmers in Argentina will increase their corn acreage in 2025/26 by 9.6% (approximately 700,000 hectares) to 7.8 million hectares (19.2 million acres). An improved climate, low numbers of corn leafhoppers, lower export taxes on corn (9.5%) vs. soybeans (26%), and a desire for a more balanced crop rotation are some of the factors for the increase in corn acreage. If verified, this would be the second largest corn acreage in history after 2023/24.
Abundant rains during the last few months have saturated the soil in the heart of the grain production belt resulting in excellent soil moisture. Parts of the core production area received 2-6 inches of rain in recent days guaranteeing good soil moisture for the start of planting. Farmers will start planting their corn and soybeans in September and October respectively under excellent soil moisture conditions.
Farmers reduced their corn acreage in 2024/25 out to fear of corn leafhoppers devasting their crop similar to what happened in 2023/24, but since then, scientists and farmers have developed new strategies to combat the insect such as planting their corn earlier and using more tolerant hybrids. As a result, the biggest increase in corn acreage will occur in areas which had significantly reduced corn acreage in 2024/25 due to fear of corn leafhoppers.
Early corn planting has started in the provinces of Santa Fe and Entre Rios.