Dinâmica da agricultura anual no polo de Santarém, oeste do estado do Pará, no período de 2004/2014

The Santarém region in western Pará stands out as one of the main frontiers for the expansion and intensification of grain production. The objective of this study is to analyze the dynamics of annual cropping in part of this region, using maps generated through the TerraClass Project in the 2004/2014 period, mainly land use and land cover maps for 2004, 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014. The results of the study highlighted the expansion of annual cropping in the area between 2004 and 2012, more precisely in the eastern and southern portion of the BR-163 highway, but with a slight decrease between 2012 and 2014. Pastureland has been the main source for new areas of annual crops in the region, followed by land formerly under secondary vegetation. Driving forces for the growing rate of mechanized agriculture in the Santarém region include the abundance of land with lower value than in consolidated areas for mechanized agriculture elsewhere in the country, the international price of grains, the geographical proximity of major international markets, and prospects for the expansion and improvement of local infrastructure and logistics.