Beyond Corn and Wheat: Why Second-Season Crops Deserve Your Attention in 2025

As global agriculture grapples with climate variability, land constraints, and the imperative for sustainable intensification, second-season or "safrinha" crops have emerged as a strategic solution. These crops, cultivated immediately after the main harvest, offer a pathway to enhance land productivity without expanding agricultural footprints.

Brazil’s Safrinha Corn: A Record-Breaking Season

Brazil's 2024/25 safrinha corn crop is poised for a record harvest, with estimates reaching 98 million metric tons, accounting for nearly 80% of the nation's total corn production. This surge is attributed to favorable weather conditions and expanded planting areas.

However, the season hasn't been without challenges. Delayed rains in late 2024 postponed soybean planting, subsequently affecting the safrinha corn planting schedule. Despite these setbacks, consistent rainfall into early May 2025 has supported crop development, particularly in key regions like Mato Grosso and Paraná.

The Helios platform tracks both main and second-season corn cycles, such as Brazil’s safrinha and Mexico’s winter crop, providing procurement teams with critical, off-season insights often missed by traditional data sources.

U.S. Double-Cropping: Navigating Climate and Market Dynamics

In the United States, double-cropping, planting two crops sequentially in a single growing season, is gaining traction as a climate adaptation strategy. Research indicates that a 3°C increase in temperature could expand the feasibility of double-cropping, especially in cooler regions, potentially increasing double-cropped soybean areas by 2.1 percentage points.

However, 2025 has presented its own set of challenges. In Kentucky, for instance, historic floods in April disrupted planting schedules, forcing farmers to reconsider crop choices and planting timelines. Such events underscore the importance of flexibility and resilience in cropping strategies.

Helios captures both spring and winter wheat cycles across major producers like the U.S., EU, and China, enabling year-round monitoring of supply risks and opportunities across multiple seasonal windows.

Climate Variability: A Double-Edged Sword

While climate change may extend growing seasons, it also introduces unpredictability that can jeopardize second-season crops. In Brazil, for example, delayed rainfall in late 2024 threatened the timely planting of safrinha corn. Fortunately, consistent rains into early May 2025 have supported crop development, mitigating potential losses.

In the U.S., climate variability affects double-cropping viability. A 2023 study in Agricultural Systems found that the success of double-cropping is highly sensitive to regional climate conditions, necessitating site-specific intelligence for sustainability.

Leveraging Technology for Informed Decision-Making

Advanced tools like Helios provide granular, field-level intelligence, aiding in assessing second-season viability. By analyzing microclimates, rainfall patterns, and soil recovery windows, these platforms support data-driven decisions, enhancing the sustainability and profitability of double-cropping systems.

For example, Helios has demonstrated a 91% success rate in detecting global supply disruptions over the past five years, providing early warnings that enable procurement teams to adjust strategies effectively.

Implications for Procurement Leaders

For procurement leaders, the evolving dynamics of second-season cropping in 2025 underscore the necessity for agile and informed sourcing strategies. The potential for increased yields through practices like double-cropping presents opportunities to stabilize supply chains and mitigate risks associated with climate variability. However, these benefits hinge on the ability to anticipate and respond to environmental challenges proactively. Integrating advanced analytics and real-time data into procurement processes can enhance decision-making, ensuring resilience and sustainability in the face of an increasingly unpredictable agricultural landscape.