Summer harvest is coming to an end in RS

The summer grain harvests are coming to an end. Dry weather and temperatures rising during the day and falling at night predominated during the week. Relative air humidity remained low, despite the rain that occurred during the period. These factors contributed to the soybean harvest reaching 94% of crops. The information is contained in the Conjunctural Information released by Emater/RS-Ascar, in partnership with the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development (Seapdr), last Thursday (30/04).

The predominant phase of corn cultivation is harvesting, reaching 85% in the State, favored by the period with a predominance of dry weather. The scattered and low-volume rains that occurred did not alleviate the impact caused by the prolonged drought on crops. In the administrative region of Emater/RS-Ascar de Pelotas, the harvest in corn areas for silage is coming to an end, with 82% of crops harvested. Due to the negative effects of the prolonged drought, many of the areas with grain crops have been used for silage. The low volume of green mass is a reflection of reduced productivity.   

The rice harvest is coming to an end. The harvest has already reached 95% in the State. The worrying fact at the moment is the scarcity of water sources, which worsens every week without the occurrence of rain to replenish water volumes, which are crucial for planning the next harvest.  

In the administrative region of Emater/RS-Ascar de Pelotas, the first harvest of beans is finished. The crop was greatly affected due to the prolonged drought. Yields were lower than those of previous harvests. Average losses in the region are 60% of expected productivity. 

In the Frederico Westphalen region, 20% of second-crop bean crops are flowering, 44% are filling grain, 16% are maturing and 20% have already been harvested. The reduction in yield is 38,5% compared to the initial expectation of 1.800 kilos per hectare, with the prospect of increased losses in areas that are currently flowering and grain filling.  

OLERY CROPS 

In the Emater/RS-Ascar de Santa Rosa region, the implementation of vegetable crops continued on irrigated properties. Producers are starting to look for seeds and some are already planting garlic. Onion is in vegetative development for later replanting in the final area. Onions are also planted in the form of bulbs to produce seedlings, known as family onions. 

Started planting peas. With milder temperatures, both the supply and quality of hardwoods in the markets increased. There is a tendency to normalize production and achieve excellent product quality. 

The pandemic situation has greatly worried vegetable producers, especially those who sell in the municipal public market, as they face problems with the flow of production and sales, with a reduction in consumption; Such problems are associated with the limited movement of people. In compliance with health recommendations, opening hours were extended to reduce the flow and avoid crowds of people at peak times in the market. 
Below are technical guidelines via WhatsApp on strawberry and beet cultivation and on irrigation techniques that favor plant development and optimize production. 

FRUITS

In the Santa Rosa region, the end of the persimmon and fig harvest; the banana is ripening and the Satsuma Okitsu bergamot, sky orange, lemon, avocado and Pérola pineapple are harvested. Producers implement strawberries in semi-hydroponic systems. 

In citrus, fruit falls due to drought; orange trees with low fruit load; bergamot trees with a good load of fruit, in full development. Specific phytosanitary treatments were resumed, mainly in commercial areas, and the thinning of Montenegrin bergamot, with the aim of regulating production and producing larger and better quality fruits. 

Some producers prepare areas for establishing new orchards and collect soil samples for analysis in areas in production, such as vines, and in areas to be planted with other crops in the next harvest, such as watermelon and melon. In the coming days, the implementation of winter cover plants will begin.