Different scenarios in the corn harvest in RS

In recent days, there has been rapid progress in the corn harvest in Rio Grande do Sul. It reached 27% of the cultivated area, according to information from Emater/RS. It was carried out in three situations: in crops that had completed the maturation process; in plants whose maturation is accelerated by drought; to free up crops for new crops (despite grain moisture being above ideal).

In a new productivity assessment, Emater/RS estimated: stability in the Caxias do Sul region; losses in Porto Alegre; increase in losses in the regions of Erechim, Ijuí, Lajeado, Passo Fundo, Pelotas and Santa Rosa; and serious losses in the regions of Bagé, Frederico Westphalen and Santa Maria.

In the most affected regions, crops were abandoned, freeing them for animal consumption. The producers who financed the cultivation awaited the experts' approval to use the green mass in the form of silage.

Irrigated crops have satisfactory potential, although they also suffer adverse effects from high temperatures and high evapotranspiration rates -- which exceed the water replacement capacity of pivots, spools or furrows.

Soybean

Soybean crops present disparities. All due to poorly distributed rain with great variation in volume. Some present development close to normal. Others, located in soils with less moisture retention capacity, suffer serious damage and death of plants.

There was a worsening of the drought in part of the state. The most affected area comprises the administrative regions of Emater/RS of Santa Maria and Santa Rosa. The decrease is intermediate in Bagé, Frederico Westphalen, Ijuí, Lajeado and Pelotas. Losses are lower in Erechim and Soledade. There is no reduction in Caxias, Passo Fundo and Porto Alegre.

In phytosanitary terms, there was an increase in the incidence of thrips. Mainly in places with lower volumes of rain.

Producers took advantage of the best humidity conditions in the air to carry out fungicide applications. As disease pressure is lower, they are using lower-cost alternatives.

In the Southern Half, some crops showed symptoms of powdery mildew, but the severity of infestation is low. Producers were recommended to monitor the evolution of symptoms to assess the need to apply fungicides.

Rice

In rice, there are two distinct scenarios. The first, referring to most crops, is adequate water availability. The productive potential remained high, favored by the climatic conditions, coinciding with the reproductive phase. The second scenario is made up of a smaller number of crops, which present problems with lack of water and where irrigation is carried out with less efficiency, which may lead to the abandonment of some plots in extreme cases.

However, it is the summer crop least affected by drought. Among the regions with the highest production, productivity expectations are still maintained in the Emater/RS administrative regions of Lajeado and Porto Alegre. There is a prospect of a reduction in Santa Maria and Soledade. The greatest damage occurs in Bagé and Pelotas.