Frost should not result in losses in the agricultural scenario in Rio Grande do Sul

The strong frost in the early hours of Thursday (29/07) and in recent days should not result in significant losses in the agricultural scenario in Rio Grande do Sul. According to Emater/RS-Ascar extension agent, Elder Dal Prá, losses should be occasional in wheat, barley and oats, and slightly greater in canola. “However, our area in the State is small, just over 40 thousand hectares, but it will only be next week to get an idea of ​​whether there was a loss or not. And in fruit growing, another 15 days, but as the plants are resistant during this period, it is possible that there is no record. In the coming days we should have more adjusted reports.”

According to the Economic Information produced and released this Thursday by the Institution's Planning Management, linked to the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development (SEAPDR), for the native countryside and summer pastures, the sequence of frosts and low temperatures has been causing more intense burning of plants, further reducing the supply of forage for livestock, which was already considered insufficient. “There may be a reduction in pasture due to the cessation of plant growth and development and, as a consequence, a reduction in the supply of forage”, explains Dal Prá.

In the beef cattle breeding system, based only on the native countryside, the loss of body condition of the animals was accentuated due to the sequence of frosts and the insufficient forage available. Like cattle, sheep kept on cultivated winter pastures have good body condition, but herds kept on native grassland suffer from stagnation in the growth of plants burned by frost and with reduced height, making grazing difficult even for sheep.

Wheat

Wheat sowing is technically closed in the State, with 98% in germination and vegetative development and 2% in flowering. To plant the 2021 harvest, producers followed the periods recommended by the Agricultural Climate Risk Zoning, defined by the Ministry of Agriculture, in accordance with the appropriate seasons for each cultivar group.

Beekeeping

The higher temperatures and the longer period of sunshine led to greater movement of bees in search of the scarce flowers of the moment, mainly forage turnip, eucalyptus, canola, astrapeia and a few native species.

Even with more favorable weather conditions, producers continue to be advised to supplement their hives. The period is suitable for maintaining beekeeping areas and building new boxes. The demand for beekeeping funding and investment projects, prepared by the municipal offices of Emater/RS-Ascar, increased.

Quarterly climate forecast

The next quarter will still remain without the influence of global weather events, which will maintain the remainder of winter and the beginning of spring 2021 with patterns close to the average in RS. In the coming months, the La Niña phenomenon is expected to return, which could cause a reduction in rainfall in the last quarter of 2021.

For the months of August and September, rainfall is expected to remain close to average in most regions, with only some areas of the Campaign likely to see values ​​slightly higher than normal in August. In October, the forecast indicates a reduction in rainfall and below-average volumes are expected in much of RS, with a greater decrease in precipitation in the Eastern Half. The forecast for minimum and maximum temperatures indicates values ​​below normal throughout the State, with a natural increase in maximum temperatures between September and October.