RS Harvest 2025/26: Wheat sowing progresses gradually.

Wheat sowing has progressed gradually in the producing regions of Rio Grande do Sul, following the Agricultural Zoning of Climatic Risk (Zarc) and conditioned by soil moisture conditions and trafficability of the areas. According to the Conjunctural Report released by Emater/RS this Thursday (June 3), crops planted at the beginning of the recommended period show satisfactory emergence and initial establishment, with adequate stands and vegetative development. 

The preparation of areas for planting the cereal continued, but projections indicate a significant reduction in the cultivated area compared to the previous harvest, reflecting a combination of high production costs, credit and rural insurance restrictions, and an increased perception of climate risk for the winter cycle. In several regions, there is less use of certified seeds and greater reliance on own resources to finance the activity.

 The estimated area to be cultivated in the 2026 harvest is being surveyed by Emater/RS. In the previous harvest, Rio Grande do Sul cultivated 1.166.163 hectares of wheat, with an average productivity of 2.968 kg/ha and a total production of 3.458.083 tons, according to IBGE data.

White oats 

White oat sowing has reached most of the projected area in the main producing regions. Soil moisture conditions and mild temperatures favored the emergence, initial establishment, and vegetative development of the crops. The planted areas generally show good plant stands and low incidence of pests and diseases. However, in some areas, lower sunlight during the period limited leaf emission and reduced the physiological activity of the plants, without, so far, compromising the initial potential of the crops.

The expectation is for maintenance or slight expansion of the white oat area compared to the previous harvest, when the state cultivated 393.135 hectares, driven by the demand for grains and the inclusion of the crop in diversified production systems. However, greater caution is observed regarding the level of technological investment, with a predominance of management practices requiring less input. The estimated cultivated area for 2026 is being surveyed by Emater/RS. In the 2025 harvest, 935.664 tons of white oats were produced, with an average productivity of 2.394 kg/ha, according to IBGE data.

Canola 

Canola planting has progressed and is nearing completion in the main producing regions. Planting conditions show regional contrasts: some areas benefit from the return of soil moisture, while others are still limited by irregular rainfall. Established crops show good germination, emergence, and initial vegetative development, with crops in the vegetative and rosette stages predominating, and stands considered satisfactory.

The expectation of a large expansion of the cultivated area compared to the previous harvest remains, driven by the search for economic alternatives for winter systems and the consolidation of the crop in crop rotation. The cultivated area in the State continues to be surveyed by Emater/RS. In 2025, 174.394 hectares were cultivated, with an average productivity of 1.653 kg/ha and a total production of 285.481 tons, according to IBGE.

Barley 

Barley planting is in its initial phase. Expectations are growing for a significant reduction in cultivated area in the 2026 harvest, estimated at more than 30% compared to the previous cycle. This decrease stems from a greater perception of climate risk associated with the possible El Niño phenomenon during the winter and spring, which diminishes producers' interest in the crop, even with the availability of integration contracts with the brewing industry. In already established areas, initial development conditions are satisfactory, with good emergence and vegetative growth. The cultivated area for 2026 is currently being surveyed by Emater/RS. In 2025, the planted area was 32.010 hectares, with an average productivity of 3.622 kg/ha.         

Soybean 

Soybean harvesting is nearing completion in the state. Only small areas of the second crop remain. However, the high relative humidity, coupled with frequent fog and reduced sunshine, has slowed moisture loss in the grains and limited the progress of the operation. In late-planted and second-crop fields, a reduction in yield potential is observed due to the increased incidence of foliar diseases, especially powdery mildew and rust.

With the harvest season drawing to a close, post-harvest work intensifies, including soil fertility correction, erosion control, grain sorting for storage, and the establishment of pastures and winter cover crops. The average yield estimated by Emater/RS is 2.871 kg/ha, and the cultivated area is 6.624.988 hectares. A new yield assessment is underway and will be released in upcoming reports.

Corn 

Corn harvesting has reached 97% of the cultivated area. The remaining crops correspond to smallholdings planted in succession to corn or beans, in the later periods of the Agricultural Zoning of Climatic Risk (Zarc). In general, late-planted crops show satisfactory productive performance, although the high moisture content of the harvested grains requires drying to maintain quality during storage. In areas still in the grain-filling stage, the impacts of frost were limited and localized, without significantly compromising the state's productive potential.

Corn silage 

The corn harvest for silage is in its final phase, with over 98% of the cultivated area in the state completed. Prevailing weather conditions favored the completion of operations. Frosts recorded in May caused localized damage to some of the remaining crops, characterized by leaf burn and a temporary reduction in the quality of forage intended for silage.

Beans 2st harvest 

The harvest of the second bean crop is in its final third in the state. The remaining crops are maturing, influenced by the cold conditions and high relative humidity observed in recent weeks. Frosts caused minor foliar damage in some areas, without significantly affecting the pods and grains. However, the favorable environment for disease development and the prolonged maturation period tend to reduce the productive potential of the unharvested crops. The expectation is that the harvest will be completed during the first half of June in most producing regions.

Rice 

The rice harvest has been completed in the state, confirming the high yields and quality of the harvested grains. However, the post-harvest scenario remains unfavorable from an economic standpoint, due to prices below production costs and marketing difficulties resulting from the high supply of the product. Reduced liquidity has limited the negotiating power of rice farmers, while the increased cost of strategic inputs, especially fertilizers, deteriorates the terms of trade and increases caution regarding investments for the next harvest. According to the Rio Grande do Sul Rice Institute (Irga), the cultivated area is 891.908 hectares.