Southern Brazil begins planting tobacco for the 2026/27 crop

With a production cycle of approximately 180 days, tobacco finds diverse regional conditions for its development. Therefore, there is a fixed schedule for transplanting seedlings (from seedbeds to fields) for each producing region. Established by the Quality and Innovation Working Group of the National Forum for Integration of the Tobacco Production Chain (Foniagro), the planting calendar for the Virginia variety begins on May 1st in the Central-South region of Rio Grande do Sul (until October 15th) and the coastal region of Santa Catarina (until August 31st).

The planting of the 2026/2027 Burley variety begins on May 1st in Western Paraná (until October 15th) and Southwestern Paraná (until November 15th). The Common variety begins on May 1st in the Northwest region of Rio Grande do Sul (until September 15th) and the West/Midwest/Far West of Santa Catarina (until October 15th). Regarding the Common variety, there is an exception allowing planting outside the calendar in the West, Southwest, and North regions of Paraná, which have the particularity of carrying out the so-called "early planting" from April 1st to November 15th.

On May 15th, planting of the Virginia variety begins in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul, extending until August 31st. On June 1st, planting of Virginia begins in the Itajaí Valley and the Santa Catarina Plateau; of Burley in the Northwest of Rio Grande do Sul and in the West/Midwest/Far West of Santa Catarina. On July 1st, planting of Burley begins in the West/Central region of Rio Grande do Sul and the Central-West/South of Paraná; and of Common in the Central/West of Rio Grande do Sul and the Central-West of Paraná.

The start of Virginia grass transplants in the Serra and Extremo Sul regions of Rio Grande do Sul is scheduled for July 15th; and the beginning of Burley and Common grass planting in the Serra region of Rio Grande do Sul. Transplanting of the Virginia variety in the Paraná Plateau will begin on August 1st and continue until November 15th.

The calendar was established because a need for awareness about the tobacco planting calendar was recognized. The goal is to end out-of-season planting, a practice that brings several negative consequences, such as the proliferation of diseases and pests. "Some producers were planting out of season in an attempt to generate additional income, but they end up harming the soil and the quality of the tobacco," explains Carlos Sehn, advisor to the board of directors of SindiTabaco.

According to Sehn, respecting the planting calendar contributes to strengthening the Integrated Tobacco Production System. "The advisors play an important role in raising awareness among producers, providing information about the negative consequences of the practice," he says. "It's already confirmed that proper soil management leads to crop quality and increased productivity," he adds.