Despite the rains, wheat harvest continues in RS

Despite rainfall during part of the period, wheat farmers in Rio Grande do Sul took advantage of windows of drier weather to continue with the harvest. It is estimated that the index reached 11% of the cultivation area, which is 1.505.704 hectares in this harvest. According to Emater/RS, even without ideal environmental conditions, the wheat harvest was carried out with the aim of ensuring the quality of a product that still meets the commercialization standards established for the milling industry.

The wheat crop in RS rapidly progresses to the maturation stage, which has reached 42%, with 38% of the area in grain filling, and 9% in flowering. Due to unfavorable weather conditions, there is an estimated reduction in production potential. There is widespread concern among wheat farmers related to the low price paid for grain, which results in the need to achieve high productivity to obtain some profit, or at least pay off financing related to the cost of crops. In this context, there is still a considerable risk of devaluation of the grain due to quality problems resulting from excess moisture and the action of diseases, such as FHB.

In the administrative region of Emater/RS de Frederico Westphalen, around 10% of the area is in the flowering stage; 20% are in grain filling; and 60%, in the maturation phase. The areas under harvest represent 10%, and the results obtained indicate a reduction of 12% in relation to the initial projections, which in the region are 3.026 kg/ha.

White oats - the cultivation area in the 2023 Harvest is 365.081 hectares, and productivity is estimated at 2.340 kg/ha. The harvest continued, reaching 27% of the crops. With the largest portion of crops, representing 41% in the maturation stage, there is an indication of an increase in the pace of operations in the coming days, depending on the continuation of weather conditions without rain. However, due to the damage caused to part of the crops, whether by lodging or diseases that affect the quality of the grains, some producers may choose not to harvest, using the crop only as a ground cover plant. There are still 7% of crops in the flowering phase, while 25% are in the grain filling process.

In the administrative region of Emater/RS de Ijuí, intense rains accompanied by winds increased the percentage of fallen plants in white oat crops. There was limited progress in harvesting, totaling 32% of the cultivated area. In Santa Maria, 3% of the crops are flowering, 26% are in the grain filling phase, 55% are maturing, and 16% have already been harvested. In harvested areas, losses are around 15%, but the tendency is for later crops to present more significant losses. In the Soledade region, the crop pattern is quite varied. The harvest began this week, with satisfactory yields and good grain quality.

Canola - the estimated cultivation area is 67.219 hectares, and productivity is estimated at 1.632 kg/ha. There was progress in the harvest, which reached 37% of the cultivation area. 3% of crops remain in flower; 18% in the grain filling stage; and 42% in maturation. In the administrative region of Emater/RS de Santa Rosa, 5% of the canola area is in the grain filling phase and 34% is in the maturation phase. The harvest reached 61% of crops. Despite the initial forecast of an average productivity in the region of 1.784 kg/ha, the crops harvested to date have shown a reduction of just 4%, reaching 1.713 kg/ha. Producers took advantage of the days with suitable conditions for harvesting and intensified the removal of grains from the fields.

Barley - the cultivation projection is 35.899 hectares, and the expected productivity is 3.144 kg/ha. 16% of crops are in the flowering phase; 46% in grain filling; 32%, in maturation; and 6% have already been harvested. In the administrative region of Emater/RS of Erechim, the largest producer of the cereal in the State, damage to the crop is beginning to occur, as producers remain without access to carry out phytosanitary treatments, due to high soil humidity. Diseases are related to the harvesting phase in which the crop is; the main ones are blast and Fusarium head blight.

Summer crops

Corn - the expansion of the sown area has made little progress and reaches 65% of the planned cultivation estimate for the 2023/2024 Harvest, which is 817.521 hectares in RS. The frequency of rain and periods of constant humidity in the northern half of the state have prevented a more significant advance. The crops are currently in the vegetative development phase. It is essential that there is a period of greater incidence of solar radiation to promote more vigorous and robust growth and development of crops.

In the Santa Rosa region, Corn planting stabilized at 81% of the planned area. The remaining 19% will be sown in the off-season, in January. Producers who use a higher level of inputs took advantage of the dry period, at the end of the week, to apply fungicides to crops, aiming to guarantee greater productivity. The leafhopper population remains under control in the region, and no infestations have been reported since the last torrential rains. Losses caused by hail are occasional, varying in intensity, but may increase due to inadequate crop development.

Corn silage - the cultivation area is estimated at 364.291 hectares, and the predicted productivity is 39.088 kg/ha. The culture is in the implementation phase. Planting has been staggered, and some regions have opted for cultivation at a later period. To date, 35% of the projected area has been sown.

Rice - the Rio-Grandense Rice Institute (Irga) estimates cultivation of 902.425 hectares. Emater/RS projects productivity of 8.359 kg/ha. The crop is being implemented, hampered by the recurrence of rainfall and waterlogging of the soil. During the period, there was an expansion in planting, as the frequency of rain decreased in the southern half of the State. However, there is still a delay in the establishment of crops compared to the last harvest.

In the administrative region of Emater/RS de Bagé, on the Western Border, despite the rains, significant advances were observed in the area planted with rice, which has already reached 40% in Uruguaiana and Barra do Quaraí. In Maçambará, planting covers 18% of the estimated area, being motivated by high rice sales prices, despite the unfavorable conditions of the El Niño phenomenon for the crop. In all producing regions, if climate conditions permit, there should be a significant advance in planting, thus recovering the delay in implementation.

Beans 1st harvest - the culture is in the implementation phase. The rains, in the northern half of the state, impeded progress and, in the southern half, the implementation operation began to expand. However, the broader scope of establishing the first harvest will only occur from December, when operations begin in the main producing region, in Campos de Cima da Serra. For the 2023/2024 Harvest, a projected cultivation area of ​​29.053 hectares. The productivity estimate is 1.775 kg/ha.