Overview
- Following an unusually wet winter, soil profiles across much of the core belt are recharged and the national meteorological service assigns about a 60% probability to a neutral 2025/26 climate.
- MAIZAR’s agronomic simulations show early maize sown on fully charged profiles can yield roughly 1,000 kg/ha more than plantings on soils at 25% capacity in sites such as Villa María, Río Cuarto and Oncativo.
- Projected net margins favor maize over soybean in most regions, with the Zona Núcleo example showing US$264.4/ha for maize versus US$89.3/ha for soybean.
- Market signals add support for earlier planting with an estimated US$6/t price spread in favor of early maize and a potential 3%–8% early-harvest premium.
- Early maize demands higher upfront fertilization and some areas face water excesses, yet MAIZAR notes late-planted maize remains the predominant strategy where flexibility or local conditions require it.