The cotton planting ban period begins in October and continues until December in Mato Grosso.

The Federation of Agriculture and Livestock of Mato Grosso (Famato System) informs that the cotton phytosanitary calendar in Mato Grosso, defined by the Mato Grosso Agricultural Defense Institute (Indea-MT), maintains the dates defined by Normative Instruction No. 003/2024 for the 2026/2027 crop season. Thus, in some municipalities of the state, the sanitary break begins on October 1st and ends on December 14th.

During the established period for Regions I (October 1st to November 30th) and II (October 15th to December 14th), the presence of plants posing a phytosanitary risk is prohibited. This measure is considered one of the main strategies for controlling the cotton boll weevil.

This is because if live cotton plants remain between harvests, especially stubble and volunteer plants, the pest can continue to find food and shelter. The period without host plants helps to interrupt the boll weevil's life cycle before the start of the next crop.

According to Alex Rosa, technical advisor in Agriculture at Famato, the cotton boll weevil is considered the main pest of the crop. If not controlled correctly, it can cause significant losses in production due to its high reproductive capacity and high destructive power.

“The insects are attracted by the smell and initially attack the flower buds, which fall off after opening. The attacked flowers take on a balloon-like appearance due to the abnormal opening of the petals. In addition, the insects leave external perforations in the cotton boll, and internally, the fibers and seeds are destroyed by the larvae, which prevents their normal opening and leaves the structures dark,” the advisor explains.

Rain and rainy periods favor the development of the pest, since the humidity preserves the attacked buds for a longer period.

“Mato Grosso is consolidating its position as the absolute leader in national cotton farming, accounting for approximately 701% of all cotton produced in Brazil. The production model stands out for its second-crop cultivation carried out in a succession system after the soybean harvest. In the 2025/2026 crop season, the area planted with cotton in the state was 1.36 million hectares,” highlights the technical director of Indea-MT, Renan Tomazele.

Division of regions

Mato Grosso is divided into two regions for the cotton planting ban period, respecting the different local production calendars.

The Famato System advises rural producers to pay attention to the deadlines and obligations stipulated in the state legislation on plant health protection.

Check out the division defined by Indea-MT:

Region I – Alto Araguaia, Acorizal, Alto Garças, Alto Paraguai, Alto Taquari, Araguaiana, Araguainha, Araputanga, Barão de Melgaço, Barra do Bugres, Barra do Garças, Cáceres, Campinápolis, Campo Verde, Chapada dos Guimarães, Conquista D'Oeste, Cuiabá, Curvelândia, Denise, Dom Aquino, Figueirópolis D'Oeste, General Carneiro, Glória D'Oeste, Guiratinga, Indiavaí, Itiquira, Jaciara, Jangada, Jauru, Juscimeira, Lambari D'Oeste, Mirassol D'Oeste, Nobres, Nossa Senhora do Livramento, Nova Brasilândia, Nova Lacerda, Nova Olímpia, Nova Xavantina, Novo São Joaquim, Pedra Preta, Planalto da Serra, Poconé, Pontal do Araguaia, Ponte Branca, Pontes e Lacerda, Porto Esperidião, Porto Estrela, Poxoréo, Primavera do Leste, Reserva do Cabaçal, Ribeirãozinho, Rio Branco, Rondonópolis, Rosário Oeste, Salto do Céu, Santo Antônio do Leste, Santo Antônio do Leverger, São José do Povo, São José dos Quatro Marcos, São Pedro da Cipa, Tesouro, Torixoréu, Vale do São Domingos, Várzea Grande, Vila Bela da Santíssima Trindade.

Region II – Água Boa, Alta Floresta, Alto Boa Vista, Apiacás, Arenápolis, Aripuanã, Boa Esperança do Norte, Bom Jesus do Araguaia, Brasnorte, Campo Novo do Parecis, Campos de Júlio, Canabrava do Norte, Canarana, Carlinda, Castanheira, Claudia, Cocalinho, Colíder, Colniza, Comodoro, Confresa, Cotriguaçu, Diamantino, Feliz Natal, Gaúcha do Norte, Guarantã do Norte, Ipiranga do Norte, Itanhanga, Itaúba, Juara, Juína, Juruena, Lucas do Rio Verde, Luciara, Marcelândia, Matupá, Nortelândia, Nova Bandeirantes, Nova Canaã do Norte, Nova Guarita, Nova Marilândia, Nova Maringá, Nova Monte Verde, Nova Mutum, Nova Nazaré, Nova Santa Helena, Nova Ubiratã, Novo Mundo, Novo Santo Antônio, Paranaíta, Paranatinga, Peixoto de Azevedo, Porto Alegre do Norte, Porto dos Gaúchos, Querência, Ribeirão Cascalheira, Rondolândia, Santa Carmem, Santa Rita do Trivelato, Santa Cruz do Xingu, Santa Terezinha, Santo Afonso, São Félix do Araguaia, São José do Rio Claro, São José do Xingu, Sapezal, Serra Nova Dourada, Sinop, Sorriso, Tabaporã, Tangará da Serra, Tapurah, Terra Nova do Norte, União do Sul, Vera and Vila Rica.