With corn planting already underway in much of the country and the region, grain prices remain very low. With figures updated to September 10, The margins in the core region show a worrying scenario for all crops and in particular for first-class soybeans.
Despite the fall in the price of inputs, The cost in quintals per hectare of crops has increased. In rented fields, which represent about 70% of production, at least 35 qq/ha are needed to cover costs for first-season soybeans, with more than 40 qq/ha being necessary in some cases (for higher rental values).
Producers stick to plans and advisors juggle to stay within budget while managing crops that do not harm crop yields.
The cost of implantation and protection in first-season soybeans is 300 USD/ha for average management in the region. Within these, the cost of herbicides represents on average values of 110 to 130 USD/ha. This is only herbicides, to which the cost of spraying work should be added. That is, Of the total costs of soybeans, herbicides represent between 4 and 5 qq of soybeans/haProducers insist on not deviating from what was planned so that costs do not rise.
In early corn, 55 to 60 qq/ha of corn are required on own land and 85 to 90 qq/ha on rented land. The cost of implantation and protection in corn is 550 to 600 USD/ha on average for the region. In corn there are two very important costs, one is the seed that can vary from 130 to 230 USD/ha with an average of 180 USD/ha.
On the other hand, fertilization represents a very significant cost in cultivation, being today around 200 to 220 USD/ha. This implies a
cost of 25 qq of corn/ha only in seed and fertilizer. To this must be added the cost of herbicides that can represent about 6 to 8 qq of corn/ha. With these general values for corn, the result on rented land becomes very risky.
For wheat, 33 to 35 quintals of wheat/ha are required on own land and 43 quintals of wheat/ha on rented land to cover costs. Here, fertilization represents a significant cost, representing 10 to 12 quintals of wheat/ha.
In second-season soybeans, 11 to 12 quintals of soybeans/ha are required on own land, while on rented land 18 to 23 quintals of soybeans/ha are required (depending on rental value).
Compared to a year ago, the drop in the profitability of first-season soybeans on own land is 150 USD/ha. In rented land, the fall is smaller, The loss is 30 US$/haThis collapse is mainly due to the negative evolution of the oilseed price in recent months, reflected in the harvest price (May 2025) which stands at US$279/tonne, compared to US$332/tonne a year ago.
Corn in own fields also falls: the difference between the margins (today vs. a year ago) It is 30 u$s/tnCereal is also quoted for April 2025 170 US$/ton while a year ago it was at 180 US$/ton.
Tight margins force management and strategies to be adjusted. The number is becoming increasingly risky in rented fields. The leasing market has been fully defined for several months now and there is no way to go back on decisions already made, despite the fact that the context has changed. The results will depend on how prices move towards the 2025 harvest and fundamentally on what happens in terms of climate.
Ing. Agr. (MSci) Martín A. Principiano. MP (CIAFBA): 1110, MN (CPIA): 18105
