RS 2024/25 Harvest: water stress harms summer crops

The intense heat and lack of rain continue to harm the development of summer crops in Rio Grande do Sul. According to the Emater-RS Conjuntural Report, released on February 13, soybean, corn and bean crops, among others, are experiencing significant losses in productivity due to adverse weather conditions.

Soybean

Soybean crops have been severely affected by the combination of drought and high temperatures, which in some regions of the state have reached 40°C. The western region is the most impacted, but the losses extend throughout the state. With only isolated and low-volume rainfall, soil moisture remains insufficient to sustain plant development, especially in crops in the reproductive stages. 

Currently, 38% of the areas are in flowering and 49% in grain formation and filling, but low water availability has reduced the volume of pods and grains, compromising productivity. Among the main damages observed are floral abortion, premature pod drop, basal defoliation and reduced plant size.

Corn

Corn harvesting has advanced to 54% of the cultivated area, benefiting from the rainfall recorded in early February. However, crops sown outside the recommended period are suffering from water deficit and high temperatures, which accelerate the crop cycle and harm grain filling. 

Late crops, which are still in the vegetative (7%), flowering (6%) and grain filling (14%) stages, tend to have lower productivity. In addition, the incidence of corn leafhopper (Dalbulus maidis) has increased in areas sown in January, a factor that can further compromise crop health.

Rice

Unlike soybeans and corn, rice crops are developing well, benefiting from the high availability of solar radiation. Currently, 40% of the cultivated area is in flowering, 30% in grain filling and 12% in physiological maturity. 

So far, only 2% of the area has been harvested, with work expected to intensify from March onwards. Although high temperatures can affect the quality and productivity of the grains, the crop's positive response to solar radiation has mitigated the negative impacts.

Bean

The harvest of the first bean crop is nearing completion in regions that adopt the two-crop system. In Campos de Cima da Serra, crops sown later are still in the vegetative or flowering phase. 

The high temperatures recorded during the week, reaching 35°C, increased the risk of flower abortion, compromising the production potential. The second harvest is already in the sowing process, with approximately 45% of the projected area already planted. Despite the drought, the rains at the beginning of the month favored the advancement of planting.

vegetables and fruits 

The extreme heat has also affected the production of vegetables and fruits in the state. In the Bagé and Uruguaiana regions, vegetable growers report qualitative and quantitative losses due to the intensity of solar radiation, even on properties with irrigation and shade structures. Open-air crops are the most affected, with burns on the leaves.

In fruit farming, watermelon and melon in the Ijuí region have good productivity, despite the drop in the sugar level of the fruits. In citrus groves in the Frederico Westphalen region, losses reach 30% due to drought and premature fruit drop. Pecan and olive producers in the Santa Maria region have reported flower abortion and reduced productivity, especially in sandy soils without irrigation.

With persistent heat and irregular rainfall, losses may increase in the coming weeks, making it essential to monitor weather and crop conditions.