RS 2024/25 Harvest: Canola advances with good development

Canola crops in Rio Grande do Sul are showing good development and vegetative vigor in this 2024/25 harvest. According to the Informative Conjuntural released this Thursday (August 28) by Emater/RS, 8% of the areas are in vegetative development, 4% in flowering, 67% in grain filling, and 17% in maturation or already harvested. The entity highlights that the higher solar radiation index in recent weeks favored flower set.

Despite the positive performance, specific factors reduced production potential in some areas, such as excessive rainfall during planting, frost in the first week of July during flowering, and recent hail. Even so, crop health is considered adequate, with a low incidence of white mold and a decrease in canola moth attacks. On the other hand, aphid outbreaks were recorded, requiring constant monitoring.

In the Ijuí administrative region, the crop maintains good size, producing lateral shoots, and producing a high number of flower buds. Plant health is also rated as satisfactory, and the number of grains per silique is considered excellent. The canola moth, which worried producers in previous years, is less prevalent this season.

Wheat

Wheat crops, in turn, face challenges. Heavy rainfall in the Southern region caused damage to some crops. In the Northwest and Planalto, where most of Rio Grande do Sul's production is concentrated, rainfall was moderate and caused no significant damage.

Currently, 82% of the areas are in the vegetative phase, 15% in flowering, and 3% in grain filling. The plants show good vigor and health, but growers remain concerned about fungal diseases in areas with higher humidity, especially during the critical flowering period.

In Passo Fundo, the pre-rainy weather favored crop development and allowed nitrogen fertilization. In Pelotas, excessive rainfall and high cloud cover slowed plant growth, although health remains good.

White oats and barley 

The crops of white oats have shown satisfactory development, favored by mild temperatures, adequate solar radiation, and good soil moisture. Of the total planted area, 52% is in the vegetative stage, 28% in flowering, 17% in grain filling, and 2% in maturation. A small area has already been harvested, but yields were low due to frost, with no statistical significance.

A barley is also showing satisfactory progress, with 92% of crops in the vegetative phase and 8% in flowering. Health is considered adequate, with no significant incidence of pests or diseases. In Erechim, crops destined for the beer industry are showing excellent development; in Ijuí, crops for malting and animal consumption remain in good phytosanitary conditions.

fruit growing

In the Caxias do Sul region, the variety of Fortune plum ("Italianinha") is in full bloom, favored by the accumulation of cold hours. The Letícia variety, more demanding, is still dormant in some orchards.

The harvest of strawberry was officially opened in Bom Princípio, the "State Strawberry Capital." Production is estimated at over 1 million kilograms, with harvesting ramping up in September. The fruit remains highly valued on the market, with prices ranging from R$30 to R$45/kg, after peaking at R$60/kg in early August.

In the case of peach, most orchards in the Pelotas region have already entered the leaf-bud stage. Phytosanitary conditions are considered excellent, but producers are still concerned about potential frosts that could compromise the harvest.

Pastures

Recent rains have had varying effects on pastures. While in some regions, excess moisture has made management difficult, in others it has favored regrowth and the fertilization of native and cultivated areas. Corn silage planting is ongoing, and producers are already beginning to plant annual summer forage crops to ensure a feed supply for their herds.