2023/24 wheat harvest expected to reach 4,2 million tons in Rio Grande do Sul

The 2023/24 wheat harvest in Rio Grande do Sul is projected to reach 4,2 million tons, with 1,3 million hectares planted. The optimistic scenario was reinforced during the official opening of the Wheat Harvest, held in Cruz Alta, last Saturday (12/10). Wheat is the state's main winter crop.

In 2022, Rio Grande do Sul was the largest wheat producer in Brazil, reaching 5,7 million tons. However, in 2023, the state faced climate challenges that reduced production to 2,9 million tons, which allowed Paraná to take the lead with a harvest of 3,6 million tons. The expectation for 2024 is a recovery, returning to numbers closer to the historical average.

During the harvest opening ceremony, the Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Sustainable Production and Irrigation (Seapi), Clair Kuhn, highlighted the importance of Cruz Alta in the context of state wheat farming, highlighting the holding of Fenatrigo in the city, a prominent event for the sector.

He said that after a difficult year in 2023, the state expects a harvest of more than 4 million tons. Kuhn emphasized that wheat remains the main cereal planted during the winter in Rio Grande do Sul.

Another relevant point for the wheat economy in the state is milling, which reached 2,17 million tons in 2023, according to data from the Brazilian Wheat Industry Association (Abitrigo). This represents 17% of all national milling, distributed among the 38 active mills in Rio Grande do Sul.

The mayor of Cruz Alta, Paula Librelotto, reinforced the local administration's commitment to supporting rural producers, especially in improving roads and ensuring safety in the countryside. She highlighted the importance of agriculture for the city, emphasizing that rural production is essential to ensuring food on urban tables. According to the mayor, the strength and resilience of rural families are fundamental to the local economy and