RS Harvest 2025/26: Frosts affect corn crops

The harvest of summer crops progressed in Rio Grande do Sul, favored by the predominance of dry weather, while the first frosts of autumn caused localized damage to late-planted corn and bean crops. This information is contained in the Conjunctural Report No. 1920, released by Emater/RS this Thursday (May 21).

Na soybeanThe harvest has reached 98% of the cultivated area in the state. According to Emater/RS, the reduction in grain moisture has led to smoother operations and decreased moisture discounts at receiving facilities.

The harvest, however, showed great variability in yield between regions and even within municipalities, reflecting the irregularity of rainfall, soil conditions, the positioning of cultivars, and the level of technology adopted. In areas most affected by drought between January and February, especially in shallow and sandy soils, significant losses occurred.

Yields ranged from less than 1.000 kilograms per hectare to areas exceeding 4.000 kg/ha, especially in irrigated fields and those cultivated with intermediate-cycle varieties. The average state yield is estimated at 2.871 kg/ha across an area of ​​6,62 million hectares.

No cornThe harvest has reached 96% of the cultivated area. Mostly late-planted crops remain, in physiological maturity and grain filling. Frosts recorded during this period caused localized damage, especially in higher altitude areas and second-crop plantings, causing partial burning of the leaf area.

Part of these areas were allocated to silage production. The average corn yield in the state is estimated at 7.424 kg/ha across 803 hectares cultivated.

the harvest of corn silage Harvesting is also nearing completion, reaching 97% of the area. According to Emater/RS, frosts brought forward the harvesting of some crops and led producers to redirect areas originally intended for grain production to silage. In some cases, there was a loss of nutritional quality due to premature desiccation of the plants.

No second harvest beansAlthough frosts caused localized damage in areas still in the grain-filling stage, especially in low-lying areas, the quality of the harvested grains is still considered satisfactory. The projected average yield is 1.401 kg/ha.

Winter harvest begins cautiously.

The planting of the wheat It began in an incipient way in the State, following the opening of the Agricultural Zoning of Climatic Risk (Zarc). Despite the favorable conditions for managing and establishing the first areas, the next harvest is marked by caution among producers.

According to Emater/RS, the main factors are high production costs, greater restrictions on rural credit, limitations in insurance coverage, and the climate risk associated with the possible occurrence of the El Niño phenomenon during the winter and spring.

The trend is towards a reduction in the area cultivated with wheat, as well as less technological investment, with increased use of domestically grown seeds and less demand for certified seeds. In 2025, Rio Grande do Sul cultivated 1,16 million hectares of wheat, with an average productivity of 2.968 kg/ha.

Among winter crops, the canola This presents the opposite trend, with prospects for area expansion due to the search for more profitable alternatives to traditional grains. Meanwhile, barley It is expected that there will be a reduction in cultivated area due to increased climate concerns and the risk of qualitative losses associated with excessive rainfall during the growing season.