As we transition into the summer 2025/2026 season, it’s a good moment to look back at how winter cropping and livestock performed across Uruguay — both from our own experience managing farms for investors and from broader market trends shaping the sector.

Winter Crops 2025: Oilseeds Gain Ground

The winter harvest wrapped up in December with wheat, closing a season marked by a clear shift toward oilseeds. Wheat and barley remain important crops, but the combination of price pressure and strong oilseed demand led many producers — including our own managed farms — to rebalance their rotations. It might be good to mention that a large facility will be constructed in Durazno specifically for oilseeds for aviation on the premises of Estancias del Lago.

Camelina: A Small Crop With Growing Interest

Camelina, introduced last year by LDC, expanded its planted area again in 2025. Yields were below expectations, and decisions for next year will require careful analysis. Its advantages — a short cycle, good soil-health impact, and compatibility with diversified rotations — remain attractive. But lack of weed-control tools and uncertainty around profitability are real considerations for producers and investors alike.

Yields & Market Signals

This winter showed solid performance overall:

• Canola / Rapeseed + Carinata:
  Average yields around 1,650–1,700 kg/ha, supported by very strong pricing. Domestic quotations for rapeseed climbed above USD 500/t, consolidating oilseeds as the most profitable winter option.
• Camelina:
  A yield of 1,000 kg/ha is considered positive, though variability remains high.
• Wheat:
  Regional bumper harvests put downward pressure on prices, forcing many producers to market grain as forage late in the season. Yields were approximately 5,000 kg/ha.
• Barley (cervecera and feed):
  Still a core crop for winter rotations, though pricing stayed more conservative compared to oilseeds.

The broader trend is unmistakable: oilseeds strengthened their position as the preferred winter crop, driven by price, demand, and alignment with integrated cropping systems. For landowners and investors, this opens opportunities to optimize rotations with higher-value crops while maintaining agronomic balance.

Livestock 2025: A Strong Market With Favorable Conditions

The livestock sector entered spring 2025 in one of the strongest positions of recent years. Across all categories, prices remain firm, demand is high, and supply is tight — a combination that rewards well-managed farms.

Market Performance

• Finished cattle:
  Export-ready animals reached USD 5.05–5.10/kg carcass, reflecting robust international demand.
• Young stock / replacement animals:
  Prices also increased due to strong demand and limited availability.
• Slaughter activity:
  Remains high, with the industry processing significant volumes despite supply constraints.

These conditions have reinforced Uruguay’s position as a stable, export-oriented beef supplier — and they continue to support land values in livestock regions.

What This Means for Land Investors

We see several favorable dynamics for investors with cattle-oriented properties:

• Strong returns on finished cattle, especially with efficient pasture management.
• Advantageous spring conditions, allowing finishing on natural pasture and reducing feed costs.
• Active replacement market, offering flexibility to adjust strategy depending on price cycles.
• Export-driven stability, helping shield revenues from domestic fluctuations.

Spring 2025 has been a rewarding season for livestock operations. For investors considering land with livestock potential — or those seeking reliable professional management — market fundamentals are aligned in a very supportive direction.

Closing Perspective

Across both cropping and livestock systems, winter 2025 reinforced two themes we see consistently in our work at Suma Agro Valor: the value of diversified production systems and the importance of active, professional management to capture market opportunities.

As we move into the summer season, these trends continue to guide our decisions and strategies on behalf of the farms we manage for investors in Uruguay.