Mexico Announced US$ 2.6 billion to Modernize Irrigation
Agriculture could add more than US$ 17 billion in exports in the next 10 years, according to a report presented by the Rosario Stock Exchange, which included projections on medium and long-term scenarios. To achieve this increase, it will be necessary to advance in infrastructure projects, tax reforms, a competitive exchange rate and the adoption of cutting-edge technology. (BCR)
Exchange rates have reached their closest points since 2019, following the recent easing of exchange rate policy and the agreement with the IMF. The difference between the official and parallel market rates of the peso stood at 0.5%, the smallest since capital controls were imposed in late 2019. The percentage represents a sharp drop from the 200% difference between the rates recorded in 2023. (VatNet Financial Research)
Soybean sales hit the slowest pace in 11 years despite the easing of currency controls. Sales of the oilseed reached 24% of the 49 million tonnes estimated for the 2024/25 harvest. (Ministry of Economy)
Minister Flávio Dino, of the Federal Supreme Court, ordered the Union to expropriate lands that have suffered from arson or illegal deforestation. The measure should be applied in cases where the owner’s liability is proven. The Union and States will have to adopt measures to prevent the regularization of lands where environmental crimes have occurred. They will also have to file lawsuits for compensation against owners who are responsible for illegal fires or deforestation. (Ibama)
According to an analysis by the Center for Advanced Studies in Applied Economics, coffee farmers in the Arabica regions of the State of Minas Gerais and São Paulo are concerned about the size of the coffee beans in the 2025/26 crop, since the rains in February and March were concentrated in only a few days, which damaged an important period for the completion of the grain filling. (Cepea)
The National Supply Company released the first estimate for sugarcane production in the 2025/26 season. The current cycle is expected to reach 663.4 million tonnes, a 2% reduction when compared to the previous harvest. The drop is attributed to unfavorable weather conditions during crop development in 2024, especially in the State of São Paulo, where, in addition to low rainfall and high temperatures, there were fires that affected part of the sugarcane farms. (Conab)
2024/25 soybean harvest reached more than 95% of the total area, consolidating a record harvest, but with numbers below the initial forecasts. Weather problems were recorded in important production regions. The State of Rio Grande do Sul, once again, showed negative results. “Production results in the State of Rio Grande do Sul continue to indicate a strong reduction in productivity”. (Pátria Agronegócios)
Bill No. 4522/21, which proposes the seizure of rural properties for tax collection in the absence of available funds, was rejected by the Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development Committee of the Brazilian Lower House of Congress. (Agência Câmara de Notícias)
Liga Ventures published a study on the evolution of agtechs in Brazil. Regarding investments in the sector, 39 venture capital deals were made in 2024, reaching around US$ 180 million in fundraising. (Liga Ventures)
Soybean and Corn Farmers’ Association of the State of São Paulo has elected a new board of directors for 2025/2027. Farmer Andrey Rodrigues will be the president, replacing Azael Pizzolato. Gustavo Chavagli is the new vice president. (Aprosoja SP)
Net revenue of the machinery and equipment industry increased 15.2% in the 1Q when compared to the same period in 2024, reaching US$ 11.89 billion, after a long period of declining results. Agriculture, as well as the construction and infrastructure sectors were responsible for the increase in sales, according to Cristina Zanella, director of competitiveness, economics and statistics at the Brazilian Association of the Machinery and Equipment Industry. (Abimaq)
India opened its market for citrus from Brazil. Exports of Tahiti limes, Sicilian lemons, sweet oranges, tangerines and other products have been approved. “India has enormous consumption potential and, with this new access, we are expanding not only the destination of our exports, but also the recognition of the quality of our production”, said Luiz Eduardo Raffaelli, institutional director of the Brazilian Association of Fruit Farmers and Exporters. (Abrafrutas; MAPA)
In March of 2025, wheat milling in the Bío-Bío region reached 16,736 tonnes, an increase of 21.2% when compared to the same march of 2024. This good performance is associated with the increase in wheat products and by-products. (INE)
According to the National Society of Phytosanitary Products, the new US tariffs are an opportunity to explore other markets, especially in the case of tomato exports. “The announcement that the US wants to impose a 20.91% tariff on Mexican tomatoes starting July 14th is an opportunity to explore new markets without neglecting local production“. According to the Bank of Mexico, annual tomato exports increased by 13.48% in 2024 when compared to 2023, rising from US$ 2.67 billion to US$ 3.03 billion. (Sonafi)
The government announced an investment of US$ 2.6 billion to modernize irrigation. According to Efraín López, director of the National Water Commission, approximately 76% of the country’s water is used in agriculture. According to López, with the adoption of new irrigation technologies, it is possible to reduce water consumption by up to 50%. (Conagua)
Rainfall in the agricultural regions has returned to normal in recent weeks, raising expectations regarding the second crop harvest. According to the Union of Production Guilds, there is still a long way to go: soybeans are expected to be harvested by the end of May, while corn should be harvested in June. “We expect to have a reasonable harvest. There was some impact at the beginning due to the lack of rain, but now there is a possibility of recovery and, with luck, production levels will be good”, said Héctor Cristaldo, head of the Union. (UGP)
Corn production exceeded 853 thousand tonnes in 2024. Regions of Junín, Áncash, Cusco and Cajamarca stand out in the production of the grain. (Ministry of Agriculture)
The 2025/26 blueberry harvest is expected to reach a record export of more than 400,000 tonnes, according to Luis Miguel Vegas, general manager of Proarándanos. “We must be aware of the major challenges we will face in 2025”, he said. “One of the main challenges is regarding logistics: transporting more than 20,000 tonnes of fresh fruit per week will test every link in the blueberry production chain”. (Proarándanos)
More than 1,700 agricultural land purchase and sale transactions were recorded in Uruguay in 2024, totaling 375 thousand hectares and US$ 1.5 billion. According to the Agricultural Statistics Office, sales grew 58% when compared to 2023, and the price per hectare reached a record of US$ 3,967. (DIEA)
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