In 2012, the Brazilian corn production (71.1 million metric tons) grew 27.7% and surpassed that of soybeans (65.9 million metric tons), which had been leading production since 2002 , but, due to scarce rainfalls, fell  2.0% mainly in the South and Northeast Regions. In 2012, for the first time, second-crop corn was higher than the first one. Even so, soybeans continue leading the value of production (24.7% of the national overall), followed by sugarcane (19.8%) and corn (13.2%). Conversely, sugarcane production posted its first drop (-1.8%) in 12 years. These are some of the data from the Municipal Agricultural Production (PAM), which investigates 64 products in almost all the 5 565 Brazilian municipalities.

São Desidério (BA) surpassed Sorriso (MT) and was the municipality with the highest value of production in 2012, with a high of 35.2% in relation to 2011. But the agricultural production in Sorriso grew 124.6% in the year, and this municipality continues as the biggest national producer of soybeans and corn.

PAM 2012 releases for the first time, by municipality, the production of the coffee species: coffea arabica and coffea canephora, separately. The biggest national producer of coffee, Patrocínio (MG), also lead the production of coffea arabica. Jaguaré (ES), the second biggest producer, is the national leader in coffea canephora.

The value of production of the 22 fruit species investigated by PAM fell 6.5% in relation to 2012. Petrolina (PE) is the biggest fruit producer in the country. Juazeiro (BA), second in the ranking, posted a drop of 20.9% in the value of its fruit production. Because of the droughts in the Northeast, the national production of cashew nuts fell 65.1% in the year, and the value of production shrank 59.9%. The national production of orange decreased 9.1% in relation to 2011, but in São Paulo it declined 12.6%.

Among the 64 cultures surveyed, 41 fell in production over 2011, as beans (-18.6%), rice (-14.3%), soybeans (-12.1), cassava (-9.1%), cotton (-2.0%) and sugarcane (-1.8%). Furhter information on PAM 2012 can be accessed on http://saladeimprensa.ibge.gov.br/noticias?view=noticia&id=1&idnoticia=2246&busca=1&t=pam-2011-valor-producao-agricola-cresce-27-1-relacao-2010.

In 2012, according to the National Agricultural Survey (PAM), 69.2 million ha (up 1.0 million over 2011) were cultivated, a result of larger planted areas of soybeans and corn. The value of production (R$ 204.0 billion) rose 4.3 % in the year. Corn, beans and cotton were greatly responsible for the increase, with highs of 20.7%, 20.7% and 11.8% in their value of production. But soybeans still hold the greater participation in the agricultural value of production of the country (24.7%), followed by sugarcane (19.8%) and corn (13.2%).

The highlight in 2012 was the record production of corn (71.1 million metric tons), surpassing soybeans, which led production since 2002, but had a 12.0% contraction in 2012, due to droughts in the South and Northeast.

São Paulo still registers the biggest contribution (17.8%) to the national value of production, increasing R$ 1.7 billion in its value of production. Among the municipalities, São Desidério (BA) surpassed Sorriso (MT) and recorded the highest value of production in 2012, with high of 35.2% in relation to 2011.

Cereal production rises 7.4%

The production value of cereals, legumes and oilseeds (cotton, peanut, rice, oat, rye, barley, beans, sunflower, castor beans, corn, soybeans, sorghum, wheat and triticale) reached R$ 101.7 billion, growing 7.4%. The production accounted for 162.0 million metric tons in 50.4 million ha. Soybeans and corn represented 84.5% of this result.

In 2012, São Desidério (BA) boosts in value of production

São Desidério (BA) surpassed Sorriso (MT) and was the municipality with the highest agricultural value of production in 2012 (R$ 2.3 billion), with a high of 35.2% in the year. It accounted for 12.4% of the national production of cotton and 48.9% of the production in Bahia. The municipality is the 11th in the national ranking of soybeans, and responsible for 23.5% of the crops in Bahia.

The production in Mato Grosso keeps growing, especially corn. Sorriso, the second in the ranking in the value of production, is the major producer of soybeans and corn, responsible for 9.0% and 12.8% of the production of these crops in MT (Mato Grosso), respectively. The value of production grew 9.1%, due to corn, whihc was up 124.6%.

Soybeans are the major product in nine states, and corn, in six. More than half of the agricultural Brazilian production (55.4%) come from just four states: São Paulo, Mato Grosso, Minas Gerais and Paraná. In some states, agriculture is concentrated on few products, which can mean severe losses in case of weather problems or price drops. Two examples of that phenomena are Alagoas, where sugarcane accounts for 86.0% of the value of production, and Espírito Santo, where more than two thirds (70.4%) of the agricultural value of production come from coffee.

Corn second crop beats first

In 2012, the national production of corn (71.1 million metric tons) grew 27.7%, principally in the Central–West. The harvested area grew 7.4%. For the first time, the 2nd crop (38.3 million metric tons) surpassed the 1st (32.8 million metric tons).

After  the United States' (biggest producer) crop shortfall, prices went up. Taking advantaged from the favorable scenario, Brazilian producers enlarged the planted area in 10.7% and invested in technology, causing production to grow 27.7%.

In Paraná, the biggest producer (23.3% of the crops), production grew 32.7% in the year. Mato Grosso (15.7 million metric tons) posted the greatest growth (101.5%), with the state production concentrated on corn 2nd crop (96.4%). The drought caused corn production in the Northeast (3.9 million metric tons) to fall 23.0%.

The five municipalities with the biggest production in 2012 were: Sorriso (MT), Jataí (GO), Lucas do Rio Verde (MT), Rio Verde (GO), Maracaju (MS). They had significant positive changes in production in relation to 2011: Sorriso (124.6%), Lucas do Rio Verde (81.1%), Rio Verde (60.4%), Maracaju (57.0%) and Jataí (33.0%).

Planted area grew, but soybean production fell 12%

Soybeans took 25.1 million ha, or 36.3% of the planted area in the country, up 1.1 million ha over 2011. But production (65 848 857 metric tons) dropped 12%, due to the lack of rainfalls in the South Region, Mato Grosso do Sul, Bahia and Piauí. The South was the most affected area, with a drop of 37.3% in the production in relation to 2011. Rio Grande do Sul had the greatest losses, moving to the 4th place in the national soybean ranking, surpassed by Goiás.

Mato Grosso, the national leader, harvested 33.2% of the production. The five municipalities with the biggest production are located there: Sorriso (1 961 880 metric tons, or 3.0% of the national production); Sapezal (1 130 326 metric tons) and Nova Mutum (1 107 481 metric tons). In the year, the contribution of Paraná, the second in the ranking, fell from 20.6% to 16.6% of the national production of soybeans.

Sugarcane production posts first drop (-1.8%) in 12 years.

Due to the drought, the Brazilian sugarcane production fell 1.8%, after 12 years of increases.  From São Paulo, the biggest producer, came 56.3% of the national production. Morro Agudo (SP) continues on top and kept its production unchanged in relation to 2011, but there were decreases in Barretos (-17,6%), Piracicaba (-13,6%), Paraguaçu Paulista (-19,3%), Jaboticabal (-22,6%) and Guaíra (-7,3%).

Minas Gerais is the second biggest producer, with 9.8% of the national production. Uberaba moved from the 8th to the 3rd place. Goiás, the state registering the highest growth in the last years, became the 3rd biggest producer. Quirinópolis (GO), which leads the production in Goiás, grew 16.7%, becoming the 8th biggest Brazilian producer.

Droughts strike cotton crops down 2.0%

In 2012, the national production of cotton (4 969 064 metric tons) fell 2.0% over 2011. Because of the weather, the crops in Bahia, Goiás and Minas Gerais contracted 20.5%, 17.2% and 9.9%, respectively.

São Desidério (BA) is the national leader, with 12.4% of the production. With the drought, despite a slight area increase (4.9%), production fell 13.7%. But the lack of the product rose prices and the municipal value of the production grew 43.5%.

Rice crops fall 14.3%

Rice production, relatively stable in the last few years, had a significant decrease. Rice, a traditional product in the Brazilian diet, has been recording a relatively stable production in the last few years. The national production of paddy rice in the 2012 crops was of  11 549 881 metric tons, down 14,3% (-14.3%) over 2012. Rio Grande do Sul, the biggest producer, concentrated 66.6% of the national production: 7 692 223 metric tons, 14.0% less than 2011. With 9.5% of the Brazilian production of rice, Santa Catarina is the second in the ranking, followed by Mato Grosso (4.0%), Maranhão (3.8%), Tocantins (3.0%) and Rondônia (2.1%).

The main 20 producing municipalities of rice are from Rio Grande do Sul. Together, the five first municipalities (Uruguaiana, Itaqui, Santa Vitória do Palmar, Alegrete and São Borja) accounted for 21.2% of the national production.

Coffee production (coffea arabica and canephora) grew 12.5%

In 2012, Brazil produced 3 037 534 metric tons or 50.6 million sacks of 60 kg, 12.5% more than in 2011, considering both species. The harvested area was of 2 120 080 hectares. The average yield, of 1 433 kg/ha, was influenced by the full crop year of arabica, which represents 75.0% of the Brazilian production of coffee.

PAM releases, for the first time, information on coffee species - coffea arabica and coffea canephora - separately. Despite the 12.5% rise in the production, there was a strong price fall, especially in arabica, and the value of production grew just 3.0%.

The 20 biggest coffee producers of the country are led by Patrocínio (MG), which had an increase of 106.1% in production and where arabica is planted. In Jaguaré (ES), second biggest coffee producer, where coffea canephora is cultivated, production rose by 11.9%.

Arabica's crop was of 2 278 738 metric tons and Minas Gerais was responsible for 69.3% of it. Patrocínio (MG) is the biggest arabica producer in Brazil (64 789 metric tons), with Serra do Salitre (MG) (38 158 metric tons) coming next. Of the 20 biggest producing municipalities of arabica, just Brejetuba (ES) (14º) is not in Minas Gerais.

Coffea canephora's crop was of 758 796 metric tons. The weather, crop treatment and irrigation bore good results in Espírito Santo, the biggest producer (77.6% of the production), followed by Rondônia (11.3%) and Bahia (6.3%). Jaguaré (ES) is the biggest producer. Of the 20 leading municipalities, just Itamaraju (BA), Prado (BA) and Cacoal (RO) are not from Espírito Santo.

Production of beans falls 18.6%

In 2012, the national production of beans (2 794 854 metric tons) fell 18.6%, due to the droughts in the Northeast. The harvested area (2 709 485 hectares) decreased by 26.2%, but the value of production grew 20.7%.

Paraná remained as the main producer (25.1% of the total) but with a drop of 14.1% in the year.  Minas Gerais continues as the second biggest, with 633 827 metric tons and a high of 8.7% in the year. Goiás comes next, with a high of 7.9%. The 20 main producing municipalities of beans, with 27.1% of the national production, are led by Unaí (MG) (112 200 metric tons).

Droughts in the Northeast reduce cassava production by 9.1%

The harvested area of cassava in Brazil reached 1 693 001 hectares, whereas production was of 23 044 782 metric tons, decreasing 9.1% over 2011. The average yield stayed at 13 612 kg/ha. Production faced serious downturn due to the drought in the Northeast. The biggest producers (64.1% of the national overall) are: Pará (20.0%), Paraná (16.8%), Bahia (9.6%), Maranhão (6.6%), São Paulo (5.9%) and Rio Grande do Sul (5.2%).

Cassava crops in Paraná and São Paulo, with improved technology, had an average yield above 23.0 metric tons/ha. This production is destined to industry. In the Northeast and North, production goes to household consumption and to "flour houses".

Among the ten municipalities that lead cassava production, six are in Pará: Santarém, Acará, Ipixuna do Pará and Oriximiná were responsible for 1 149 900 metric tons of roots in 2012, followed by Bragança (PA), Belterra (PA), São Francisco do Itabapoana (RJ), Lagarto (SE), Campos Novos Paulista (SP) and Cianorte (PR).

Fruticulture: production of cashew nuts down 65.1%

PAM investigates 22 species of fruit: avocado, pineapple, banana, persimmon, cashews, coconut, fig, guava, orange, lemon, apple, papaya, mango, passion fruit, quince, watermelon, melon, walnut, pear, peach, tangerine and grape. The main species, orange and banana, contribute with 21.8% and 20.9% to the total value of production, respectively.

In 2012, the total value of fruit production (R$ 21.1 billion) fell 6.5% in relation to 2011. Because of the droughts in the Northeast, the national production of cashew nuts fell 65.1% in the year, and the value of production shrank 59.9%.

As the biggest fruit producer and responsible for 2.9% of the national value of fruticulture, Petrolina (PE) had a 20.1% rise in the value of its production. Juazeiro (BA), second in the ranking, posted a drop of 20.9% in the value of its fruit production.

Other municipalities had high results concentrated on the value of production: Floresta do Araguaia (PA) (33.1%), São Miguel Arcanjo (SP) (24.3%), Vacaria (RS) (21.4%), Caxias do Sul (RS) (28.7%), São Francisco de Itabapoana (RJ) (57.1%), Baraúna (RN) (109.6%), Bom Jesus (RS) (76.2%), Icapuí (CE) (51.4%), Santa Maria da Boa Vista (PE) (21.8%), Sete Barras (SP) (22.3%), Itacoatiara (AM) (23.7%), Eldorado (SP) (37.7%), São Mateus (ES) (64.5%), Registro (SP) (27.9%), Jacupiranga (SP) (35.7%) and Luiz Alves (SC) (68.3%).

National production of orange shrank 9.1% in 2012

In 2012, the national production of oranges (18 012 560 metric tons) fell 9.1% over 2011. São Paulo was responsible for 74.2% of the crops, which were mostly used for juice production, exported to USA and to the Eurozone. There were huge losses in the citriculture in São Paulo, causing a 12.6% drop in the sate production of orange, due to the European crisis, the USA sanctions and pests. Another key factor was the pressure on producers in São Paulo to lease lands for sugarcane crops.  

Among the 20 leading municipalities in orange production, Casa Branca (SP) is the first (693 690 metric tons) and Itápolis (SP), the leader in 2011, fell to the 11th position. In Bahia, the 2nd biggest producing state, the municipality of Rio Real is the 5th biggest producer of orange in the Country.