Corn planting in RS is coming to an end

There was little progress in corn sowing in Rio Grande do Sul, covering 79% of the planned area in the State, which is 817.521 hectares for the 2023/2024 Harvest. Some farmers have already completed planting the main crop and plan to supplement the area estimated in the off-season. According to the Conjunctural Information, released this Thursday (09/11) by Emater/RS, linked to the State Secretariat for Rural Development (SDR), 75% of Rio Grande do Sul's crops are in germination and vegetative development, 20% in flowering and 5% in grain filling. The crop continues to demonstrate satisfactory development, with tall plants, broad leaves and an intense green color. However, in younger leaves, symptoms of yellowing are observed between the veins, characteristic of the lack of light.

In the administrative region of Emater/RS de Santa Rosa, 35% of crops are in vegetative development; flowering increased to 51%; and in grain filling they are 14%. The general condition of the crops is very good, and there is high productive potential, evidenced by the color of the plants, health, soil moisture and reproductive stages, which occur without major problems. However, in some municipalities there is a reduction in productivity expectations due to excessive rain and the occurrence of hailstorms. In the Soledade region, crops sown early show significantly reduced vegetative development due to the restriction of solar radiation. However, crops sown in October have better production potential.

Corn silage - In the administrative region of Emater/RS Erechim, around 60% of the crop is in the vegetative stage, while approximately 30% is in the tasseling/rubbering stage. Production expectations are very favorable, due to the large plant mass present in the crops. In the Frederico Westphalen region, 40% of the cultivation area is in the germination and vegetative development stage; 50% in the flowering phase; and 10% in the grain filling phase. Climatic conditions are favorable for development, however some crops suffered negative impacts, resulting from intense rains, accompanied by winds and hail. This scenario resulted in lodging of the plants, which will pose difficulties when harvesting and ensiling the crop.

Soy - at the beginning of November, which is the second month of the recommended period for planting, according to the Agricultural Zoning of Climate Risk (Zarc), sowing still covers a reduced portion of the area destined for cultivation. Only 13% of the planned area was actually sown, due to the frequency of rainfall, which maintains soil moisture above ideal levels for the operation, and due to the concentration of the final activities of the winter harvest, in which the wheat harvest stands out. .

The soybean sowing process was prioritized on land where the amount of plant residue resulting from winter crops or cover crops is reduced, which accelerates the decrease in surface humidity. However, due to the still high humidity, greater soil disturbance is observed, creating difficulties in the uniformity of seed deposition.

1st harvest beans - the sowing process is still ongoing, and the levels of crop establishment are variable. In regions where a second harvest is being produced, the planting phase has already been completed. However, in the Northeast region, where there is only a single annual harvest, planting continues in its initial phase and, in the South region, which cultivates in a staggered manner, sowing approaches the final third.

In the administrative region of Emater/RS de Ijuí, the 1st harvest bean crop is in the reproductive stage; approximately 30% of plantations are in the flowering phase. The first cultivation areas, which represent 70% of the total area, are already in the pod and grain development stage, showing promising productive potential. Farmers are constantly monitoring the presence of pests and diseases, and pay special attention to the application of fungicides.

Rice - The crop implementation period continues, but the sown area has evolved little, reaching 71% of the projected area. The varied climatic conditions – the drier East of the State and the West region with recurrent rainfall – continue to influence the planting progress. In the administrative region of Emater/RS de Pelotas, weather conditions, characterized by sunny days and increased temperatures, made it possible to continue the sowing process; 93% of the area planned for cultivation is sown. In Soledade, the sown area reached 80%. Despite the significant progress in sowing in the last two weeks, the process is still delayed, because there are still several areas inaccessible to machines, due to flooding and high soil humidity. Although the pre-germinated system facilitated planting operations, the excess rainfall was challenging for the preparation of dry areas.

Winter crops - new projections 

According to the new estimate for the 2023 Harvest, carried out in the second half of October by Emater/RS, the area actually cultivated is 1.986.491 hectares. The initial projection for the 2023 winter harvest in Rio Grande do Sul indicated a total area of ​​1.973.903 hectares, representing an increase of 0,64% in crops. However, projections for initial production were 5.625.846 tonnes, covering wheat, barley, white oats and canola. Due to the adverse weather events observed, resulting from the El Niño phenomenon, there was a 25,10% reduction in production, totaling just 4.213.854 tons.

Wheat - According to the new estimate for the 2023 harvest, the wheat cultivated area totals 1.516.236 hectares, which represents an increase of 0,7% in relation to the 1.505.704 hectares initially forecast. The expected productivity was 3.021 kg/ha, however the current estimate points to 2.164 kg/ha, representing a reduction of 28,38%. This decrease can be attributed mainly to the effects of the El Niño phenomenon, such as excessive rainfall and the occurrence of other factors, such as frost, wind and hail, which impacted the crop in different phases of the production cycle. The production estimate is currently 3.280.655 tons, which corresponds to a reduction of 27,88% in relation to the 5.288.030 tons estimated at the time of planting.

During the period, the wheat harvest advanced, reaching 82% of the cultivated area, with 17% maturing and 1% of crops filling grain. As the harvest progresses, the reduction in crop productivity and the loss of grain quality persist. Predominantly, the hectoliter weight (PH) of the harvested products is less than 78, being considered of inferior quality. Products with a pH below 70 face difficulties in receiving them for processing and marketing.

White oats - the new estimate of the winter harvest, carried out by Emater/RS, based on data from the second half of October, indicates 355.914 hectares of white oat cultivated area, which represents a reduction of 2,51% in relation to 365.081 hectares initially predicted . The expected productivity was 2.340 kg/ha. However, the current estimate indicates 1.992 kg/ha, representing a decrease of 14,88%. The production estimate at the time of planting was 854.337 tons, representing a reduction of 17,02% in relation to the total of 708.932 tons. As with wheat, the negative results are attributed to adverse weather phenomena occurring during the production cycle.

In the administrative region of Emater/RS de Ijuí, the final stage of the harvest takes place, and the quality of the harvested grains is below the desired standard for processing intended for human consumption. The grains are being stored on properties with moisture content above ideal, which could further harm the final quality, causing concerns among producers. Only crops harvested in late August and early September meet industry requirements in terms of quality.

Barley - In the new barley harvest estimate, the area actually cultivated is 38.922 hectares, which meant an increase of 8,42% in relation to 35.899 hectares, suggested at the beginning of planting. The current productivity estimate is 2.667 kg/ha, representing a reduction of 15,17% compared to the 3.144 kg/ha initially projected. The production estimate is 103.816 tons, indicating a decrease of 8,02% in relation to the 112.870 tons initially projected.

Canola - According to the new estimate of the canola harvest carried out by Emater/RS, the area actually cultivated totaled 75.419 hectares, representing an increase of 12,20% in relation to the 67.219 initially prospected. The productivity obtained is 1.597 kg/ha, representing a 2,12% reduction in the 1.632 kg/ha projected at the beginning of planting. An increase of 9,82% in the volume of grains harvested is estimated, resulting in 120.452 tons, not the 109.684 tons initially predicted. Although the impacts of the El Niño phenomenon have affected the crop, the results demonstrate that, among winter crops, canola presented superior productive performance. Additionally, higher prices, proportional to the value of soybeans, contributed to a positive economic result.