Wheat harvest reaches 89% of the cultivated area in RS

The wheat harvest reached 89% of the cultivated area in RS, which is 1.516.236 hectares, with 11% of the crops maturing. The expected productivity was 3.021 kg/ha, however the current estimate points to 2.164 kg/ha, representing a reduction of 28,38%. According to the Economic Information released this Thursday (16/11) by Emater/RS, linked to the State Secretariat for Rural Development (SDR), this decrease can be attributed mainly to the effects of the El Niño phenomenon, such as excessive rainfall and the occurrence of frost, wind and hail, which occasionally impacted the crop at different stages of the production cycle.

In the administrative region of Emater/RS de Bagé, on the West Frontier, in Maçambará, 95% of wheat crops have already been harvested, and productivity has dropped by 20%. Only part of the crops established at the beginning of the season covered by the ZARC reached a pH equal to or greater than 78, corresponding to 30% of the cultivated area in the municipality. In São Borja, the harvest is practically over. Producers who financed crops through Proagro are in a less serious situation, considering that the insurance covers the cost of production. However, the areas covered by private insurance have low coverage, around 24 bags per hectare, and there is no framework for the PH of the grain. In the Campaign, in Candiota, Hulha Negra and Bagé, the harvested area is still not very significant, around 10%; Productivities are fluctuating a lot, ranging from 2.100 to 3.000 kg/ha, with PH above 75. Work should not be resumed in the next few days due to the increase in grain moisture and the forecast of cloudy weather and new rain.

White oats - the harvest is nearing completion. The harvest estimate indicates 355.914 hectares of white oat cultivated area. The initial productivity was 2.340 kg/ha, but the current estimate indicates 1.992 kg/ha, representing a decrease of 14,88%. The negative results are attributed to adverse weather phenomena that occurred during the production cycle.

Barley - the harvest has technically ended. The estimated cultivated area is 38.922 hectares, and productivity is 2.667 kg/ha, representing a reduction of 15,17% compared to the 3.144 kg/ha initially projected. This harvest frustration was due to the lower volume harvested and the low quality of the product, which did not meet minimum standards for use in the brewing industry. In the Emater/RS administrative region of Erechim, the barley harvest was completed. The product obtained has alternative use for animal feed. In Ijuí, producers stored the grains on their properties for animal supplementation, since there is no price available on the local market for commercialization.

Canola - the harvest is coming to an end. The cultivated area totaled 74.419 hectares. The productivity obtained is 1.594 kg/ha, corresponding to a 2,34% reduction in 1.632 kg/ha projected at the beginning of planting. In the administrative region of Emater/RS de Santa Rosa, after the completion of the harvest, the harvest results show a reduction in productivity compared to the excellent 2022 harvest. The excessive rains recorded in September and October, exceeding 1.000 mm, caused considerable damage productivity in the region, resulting in a loss of just over 15%.

Summer crops

Soybean - dry weather conditions interspersed with rain conditioned the advance of planting, which reached 22% of the cultivated area in RS. However, there is a delay in relation to previous harvests and concern about the forecasts of new rainfall, which could both further harm the progress of planting and delay it in relation to the preferred period. In general, plant emergence occurs quickly due to high humidity and high temperatures, with a large part of crops undergoing germination and vegetative development.

In the administrative region of Emater/RS de Frederico Westphalen, around 35% of the area is sown and in the germination and vegetative development phases. Producers are concerned about sowing progress, as limited progress could have negative impacts on productivity. Furthermore, staggered planting is not possible, although it would facilitate subsequent management. In Passo Fundo, although sowing was hampered by excess humidity, there was significant progress in the area implemented, which, to date, represents 40% of the total planned.

Corn – continues the sowing of corn in a currently modest way, due to the predominance of wheat harvesting and soybean sowing. The total area planted with corn in RS reached 81%, with 11% of the crops in grain filling, 24% in flowering and 65% in germination and vegetative development. A portion of farmers only intend to resume planting in the off-season, advancing sowing during the month of January. 

Corn silage - sowing is stabilized at 66%, awaiting the silage point of the planted crops and following a programmed schedule. It is estimated that 84% of crops are in vegetative development, 13% in the flowering phase and 3% in grain filling.

Beans 1st harvest - sowing had limited progress in the period, as it has already been completed in regions that adopt two crops in succession, and is still incipient in the Northeast region, which carries out only one annual crop, concentrating the operation in the month of December. The crops have adequate development, with 62% in the vegetative development phase, 21% in flowering and 17% in grain filling. Some areas have already begun the maturation process, but do not yet have statistical representation.

In the administrative region of Emater/RS de Santa Maria, the area planted with 1st harvest beans reached more than 80%. New plantings are expected to only occur between January and February 2024, during the second harvest. The extensive rainy season and high humidity have made disease management difficult, facilitating the emergence of fungal diseases. The crops are at different phenological stages: 70% are in the germination or vegetative development phase; 18% at the beginning of flowering; 11% in the grain filling phase; and 1% in maturation.

Rice - the implementation of the crop is close to completion in the South region. Recurrent and voluminous rainfall continues to impact the progress of planting in the rest of the State. There has been flooding in some recently seeded areas, which will require reseeding. Sowing in the State reached 82% and, in the Pelotas region, it reached 95% of the planned area. Prices continue to rise, encouraging producers who still have stocks for sale to make decisions about the size of the area to be sown.