Early grape varieties begin to ripen in RS

The last fortnight saw regular rainfall in the Rio Grande do Sul region, benefiting the orchards that had been suffering from a lack of humidity in the Santa Maria region. According to the Economic Information produced and released this Thursday (10/12) by the Planning Management of Emater/RS-Ascar, linked to the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development (Seapdr), early grape varieties begin to become mature. In the Erechim region, harvesting of the Niágara and Vênus varieties began. Production is lower due to drought; however, fruits have a higher sugar content.

In the Santa Rosa region, fruit trees benefited from the return of rain, especially those in areas with shallow soil, as in the case of grapes, which had many bunches in the process of dehydration. Many fruits that were in filling also benefited. The Bordô variety is at the beginning of the maturation phase, with smaller cluster and berry sizes, due to the drought, but the dry period favored a low incidence of fungal diseases. In older orchards, fruit trees are developing, with no losses, and with an improvement in crop health. Cultural treatments such as spraying with fungicides will be resumed, as will top dressing.

In the Soledade region, the vines are in the bunch compaction and berry filling phase. In general, the vineyards are in good health and have good production potential, with well-formed berries, especially earlier varieties such as Niágara and Concord. In Bagé, weather conditions with regular rain for two weeks in a row provided an improvement in activity conditions in the region. The vines of all varieties are in the berry filling phase, with good health and plant vigor in general. The crop has good productive potential as a result of the drier climate that occurred during the year. 

Grains

In relation to summer grains, the occurrence of rain contributed to the reestablishment of soil moisture, benefiting the development of crops and the resumption of soybean plantings – which already reach 80% – and the carrying out of cultural treatments. 

The presence of good rainfall in the State also contributed to the resumption of corn planting, which now reaches 87% of the estimated total area, and to the improvement of plant development. During the last week, there was an alternation between dry and rainy days, which contributed to the development of already established rice crops and to the forwarding of plantings, which now reach 99%. 

Before the start of the rains in the State, the period of dry weather during the last week ensured the closure of the wheat harvest in the Emater/RS-Ascar regions of Bagé, Pelotas and Caxias do Sul. In Bagé, it technically ended in Campaign. Even with the adverse weather conditions throughout October and November, in the analysis of producers and technicians, the evaluation of the harvest was extremely positive due to the good yields obtained and the quality of the grains. 

Vegetable crops

In the Passo Fundo region, the onion crop continues to develop from the bulb. Cultural treatments and preventive phytosanitary treatments follow. And in Pelotas, 25% of the areas are in the listing phase, 35% are being harvested and 40% are harvested. The productivity of early crops was between 25 and 30 tons per hectare. These onions can be sold immediately as they can withstand less storage. Medium cycle cultivars in harvest have lower productivity than expected due to poor rainfall distribution. Those with a later cycle are likely to be even more affected. The climate favored harvesting and adequate curing, providing onions with well-colored skins that can withstand prolonged storage. 

In the region of Caxias do Sul, the practice of harvesting garlic continued intensely, with its pace slowing down only in the last days of the week, due to the return of rain, leaving only 10% of the total area of ​​1,2 thousand hectares cultivated in the region. Serra Gaucha. The rains were widespread, of low intensity, but of long persistence and a sudden drop in temperature. Crop yields were slightly affected in terms of their productive potential, notably in areas where water volume availability was below crop demand. In Passo Fundo, the garlic crops are in good health and vegetative development is within normal limits. Producers carry out phytosanitary treatments to control pests and diseases. The rains of recent weeks favor the development of the crop.