The leafhopper poses a risk to corn production in 2026.

The definition of the planting window for the second corn crop, the safrinha, is pointed out as a determining factor for the performance of the crop in 2026. Despite the forecast of rains in the first half of February in the Midwest, the sector expects that the operational capacity of the producer will allow the acceleration of soybean harvesting and enable the sowing of corn within the period considered adequate. In addition to climatic conditions, producers report concern about the corn leafhopper, which has ceased to be a localized problem and has become treated as a nationwide challenge. A study by the Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock of Brazil (CNA) estimates losses of US$ 25.8 billion between the 2020/21 and 2023/24 crops, with an average reduction of 22.7% in Brazilian corn production, equivalent to 31.8 million tons per year. According to the CNA, in almost 80% of the municipalities analyzed, producers reported losses associated with the presence of the pest and ...