Pushed by the record in the production of soybeans (97.5 million metric tons) and corn (85.3 million metric tons), the agricultural sector recorded, in 2015, a growth of 5.6% in the production value, which reached R$ 265.5 billion. With a production rise of 12.3%, soybeans reached R$90.4 billion, followed by sugarcane (R$43.7 billion) and corn (R$29.8 billion).

The total planted area with the 63 products surveyed in 2015 amounted to 76.8 million hectares, which represented a growth of 567 thousand hectares in relation to 2014. Affected by irregular or scarce rainfall, specially in Mato grosso and Espírito Santo, coffee production fell 5.7% in 2015 over 2014, standing at 2.6 million metric tons.

In municipal terms, São Desidério (BA) continues to lead the national ranking, with a 23.2% growth in production value, which reached R$2.8 billion reais (1.1% of the national production), with cotton as the main crop, followed by the municipality of Sorriso (MT), whose production value reached R$2.5 billion (0.9%), and which is the largest producer of soybeans and corn country. In fruit production, the highlight is Petrolina (PE), whose production reached R$749.6 million (2.8% in the value of fruit production).

São Paulo remains as first in production value, with 14.9%, almost the same percentage of 2014. Mato Grosso increased its contribution from 13.5% to 13.9% due to the increased production of soybeans and corn. The municipalities with the highest participation in production value were São Desidério/BA (1.1%), Sorriso/MT (0.9%), Sapezal/MT (0.8%) and Campo Novo do Parecis/MT (0.7%).

This information is taken from the Municipal Agricultural Production (PAM) 2015, which investigates 63 products of the national agriculture, with data for Brazil, Major Regions, states and municipalities. This edition also brings maps that represent the main crops in Brazil. Further information can be accessed here.

Cereal, legume and oilseed crops grow 7.8% in 2015

The national crop of cereals, legumes and oilseeds of 2015 amounted to 209.7 million metric tons, a new record, surpassing by 7.8% 2014's result. The output value of these products reached R$ 147.4 billion, a 7.8% rise. Good weather conditions and the expansion of the planted area with soybeans and corn 2nd crop were the major reasons for the increased production.

Table 1 - Planted area or area destined to harvest, harvested area, amount produced,
average yield, production value, production change and production value change in relation to the previous year, by major products - Brazil - 2015

Source: IBGE, Diretoria de Pesquisas, Coordenação de Agropecuária, Produção Agrícola Municipal 2015.
(1) The planted area corresponds to the area destined to the annual crop. (2) Amount produced in 1 000 fruits and average yield in fruits per hectare.

Soybean output grew in MT, PR and RS, but fell in GO due to droughts

For the fourth year in a row, in 2015 a new output record of soybeans was hit, accounting for 34.0% of the total value of the agricultural production. The production surpassed by 12.3% that of 2014, with an output of 97.5 million metric tons in 32.12 million ha.

Mato Grosso (28.6%), Paraná (17.7%) and Rio Grande do Sul (16.1%) produced 62.4% of the total crops harvested in the country. Among these three states, Mato Grosso and Paraná were affected by delay of rainfall and, as a consequence, by planting delay. The initial bad weather did not persist throughout the crop development in both states and as a result there was increase in the average yield. Mato Grosso produced 27.9 million metric tons in 9.0 million hectares, figures 5.1% and 4.1% higher than the previous year's, respectively. The average yield was of 3.106 kg/ha, a 0.9% increase compared to 2014.

Of the 20 major producing municipalities, 13 are in Mato Grosso. Sorriso (2.0% of the national production) led the ranking of soybean production reaching 2.0 million metric tons.

Paraná recovered from the crop loss in 2014, caused by hot and dry weather. In 2015, 17.2 million metric tons were produced in 5.2 million hectares, increases of 15.5% and 4.6% over the previous year, respectively. Rio Grande do Sul harvested 15.7 million metric tons of soybeans in an area of 5.3 million hectares with an average yield of 2,983 kg/ha, increases of 20.4% for production, 5.5% for the area and 14.1% for the average income.

Goiás was the only state among the top five domestic producers with a production decrease (-3.7%) in 2015, compared to the previous year. The droughts, which delayed planting, continued throughout the development of the culture, making the average income go from 2,814 kg/ha in 2014 to 2,640 kg/ha in 2015, a drop of 6.1%.

Map 7 – Soybean production in the Country, with a highlight to the main producing municipalities – Brazil

Source: IBGE, Diretoria de Pesquisas, Coordenação de Agropecuária, Produção Agrícola Municipal 2015.

Goiás surpasses Minas in sugarcane production

Second only to soybeans, sugarcane accounted for 16.4% of the production value in 2015 (R$43.7 billion), reaching 748.6 million metric tons, an increase of 1.7%, which was due to a better distribution of rainfall during the year. Conversely, the harvested area fell by 3.1%, which might be related to the reform of the sugarcane plantations. São Paulo, which accounted for 56.1% of the domestic production, increased its output by 5.5% and Goiás (9.3%) took the second place, getting ahead of Minas Gerais (9.1%). The state has undergone a recent crop expansion, with new sugarcane plantations having high productivity and high technology.

Among the municipalities, the highlights are Morro Agudo (SP), with 1.0% of the national production, Quirinópolis (GO), with 0.9%, Rio Brilhante (MS) and Uberaba (MG), both with 0.8%.

Corn hits record due to long rainy season

Occupying the third position in the total value of agricultural production, with 11.2%, the production of corn in grain in 2015 was of 85.3 million metric tons, a record number. The first crop of corn harvested in the first half of the reference calendar year was estimated at 29.0 million metric tons and participated with 34.0% of the national production. The second crop totaled 48.9 million metric tons, and participated with 66.0% of the total production in 2015.

The main Federation Units producing corn grain in 2015 were: Mato Grosso (with 25.0% of national participation), Paraná (18.5%), Mato Grosso do Sul (11.4%), Goiás (11.2%), Minas Gerais (8.0%) and Rio Grande do Sul (6.5%). Mato Grosso harvested the largest corn crop in its history, due mainly to the second crop, which obtained a production of 21.0 million metric tons. This resulted from three factors: the delay of rainfall during the first crop, which reduced the planting window of competing crops more sensitive to the lack of water; corn prices returning to normal levels after the fall observed in 2014; and the rains lasting beyond the normal period, favoring even those who had planted outside the optimum window.

Paraná also got good numbers this season, 11.2 million metric tons, due to the increase of 8.1% in the average income, compared to that obtained in the previous year. Mato Grosso do Sul had a production of 9.6 million metric tons, driven by the 5.8% increase in the harvested area and 12.3% in the average income, compared to 2014. Goiás, producing 7.8 million metric tons of corn second crop also saw its production increase, compared to 2014, resulting in expansions of 2.6% in the harvested area and 8.4% in the average yield.

The municipal ranking brings Sorriso (MT) as the main corn producer in the country, accounting for 3.1% of the national production, followed by Jataí (GO), with 1.9%, Rio Verde (GO), with 1.8% and Maracaju (MS), with 1.4%. In the same order, these municipalities were also those who had the largest planted area and the largest gross production value.

Coffee production falls 1.4% in MG and 20.2% in ES

The coffee production in 2015 reached 2.6 million metric tons, or 44.1 million sacks of 60 kg, down 5.7% over the previous year, responsible for 6.0% of production value. Coffea arabica participated with 75.4% and canephora (Conillon) with 24.6% of the total. The production value was R$15.9 billion, with R$12.9 billion for Arabica and R$2.9 billion for canephora, despite the fact the latter is sold at a lower price.

Minas Gerais is the country's largest coffee producer, with 1.3 million metric tons, or 22.4 million 60-kg sacks, accounting for 50.9% of the total. In the state, the cultivation of Arabica stands out: 98.5% of the total production. All in all, the weather benefited the productions of Zona da Mata and south of Minas, reducing the production of the Cerrado, due to a year of low and poorly distributed rainfall. As a result, there was a reduction of 1.4% in the production of this product in the state, reaching 1.3 million metric tons.

Espírito Santo is the second largest producer in the country, with 618.2 million metric tons, or 10.3 million 60-kg sacks, down 20.2% compared to 2014. The state, which accounted for 23.4% of the national production of coffee in 2015, is responsible for 72.8% of the coffea canephora produced in the country, or 450.2 thousand metric tons. Scattered showers and poorly distributed rainfall during the summer reduced by 24.5% the production of canephora in the state.

Of the top twenty coffee producing municipalities, six are in Minas: Patrocínio, Nova Resende, Manhuaçu, Três Pontas, Campestre and Campos Altos; ten are in Espírito Santo: Jaguaré, Vila Valério, Sooretama, Nova Venécia, Linhares, São Mateus, Rio Bananal, Boa Esperança, Brejetuba and Pinheiros; three are in Bahia: Prado, Itamaraju and Barra do Choça; and one is in São Paulo: Garça.

Petrolina is still 1^st in fruit growing, despite drop in grape prices

The value of the domestic production of fruit increased by 3.4% in 2015 compared to 2014, reaching 26.5 billion. The main products are bananas (21.9%), oranges (21.3%), grapes (8.8%), pineapples (8.4%), apples (5.0%) and watermelons (4.7 %).

São Paulo participates with 24.9% of the national production of fruit, reaching R$6.6 billion, with the production of oranges (55.5%), bananas (11.8%) and lemons (7.6%). Bahia contributes with 11.9% of the value of fruit production (R$3.2 billion), having as main crops bananas (28.0%), papayas (17.7%) and coconuts (11.2%).

The ranking of the value of national production of fruit in 2015 was led by the municipal contributions of Petrolina/PE (2.8%), Araguaia/PA Forest (1.4%), São Joaquim/SC (1.0%), Casa Branca/SP (1.0%), Bom Jesus da Lapa/BA (0.9%) and Jaíba/MG (0.8%).