Soybean harvest resumes and now reaches 55% of the cultivated area in RS

There was a predominance of rainy and humid weather at the beginning of the period and the resumption of the soybean harvest, especially since last Wednesday (13/04), in the Northwest of Rio Grande do Sul, and Thursday (14/04), in the Center and North of the State, when the reduction in soil moisture and grains allowed the operation. According to the Conjunctural Information, produced and released this Wednesday (20/04) by the Planning and Communication departments of Emater/RS-Ascar, linked to the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development (Seapdr), the index increased significantly increased from 38% to 55% of the cultivated area. Another 34% is maturing, 10% is grain filling and only the remaining 1% is flowering.

During the period there was intense activity in the crops, although the smaller height of plants and pods placed very close to the ground required cutting to be carried out with more care and with machines at a slower working speed than normal, increasing the operation time.

As the harvest progressed, productivity reacted positively, as did the quality of the harvested product, considerably reducing the proportion of green or malformed grains. However, the current expectation is still maintained at just below 1.500 kg/ha, on the state average, with accumulated losses close to 55% in relation to the initial projection.

Corn

Even with the increase in maize crops in the maturation phase and with the dry weather, which benefits the loss of moisture in the grains, the progress of harvesting work was again very slow. The main factor for this slowness is related to the ongoing harvest in soybean crops, in all Emater/RS-Ascar regions, which direct practically all the machinery and labor. This oilseed presents a very high risk of losses due to threshing and excessive rain or hail compared to corn. The harvest reached 82% of the cultivated area. Another 11% is maturing, 5% is grain filling and a remaining 2% is flowering.

Corn silage

Part of the corn crops for grains, carried out after the period recommended by ZARC, may be used for whole-plant silage, with the aim of reestablishing silage reserves, which were not reached with planting during the harvest. These crops may also be used for cutting and direct feeding to animals, depending on the occurrence of a forage gap, which was the effect of the previous drought situation.

Rice

Due to favorable weather conditions in the main producing regions, the harvest increased from 72% to 84% in the period. In addition to favoring the progress of the operation, the dry weather during the week resulted in a reduction in fuel costs for harvesters and tractors used to remove grain from crops. Another 13% is in maturation and a remaining 3% is in grain filling.

The grains obtained, mainly in the West and Center regions of the State, where crops suffered greater water restrictions and thermal stress, have low quality, and there is a high rate of broken or plastered grains.

Weather forecast

In the next seven days, high volumes of rain may be recorded in RS. On Thursday (21), the approach of a low pressure area will favor increased cloudiness and isolated showers of rain. During Friday (22), the movement of a cold front will cause rain across the state, with the possibility of isolated thunderstorms. On Saturday (23), the weather will be dry, and the arrival of cold air will cause a slight drop in temperature. On Sunday (24), the displacement of a low pressure area will once again cause isolated showers of rain in all regions. Between Monday (25) and Tuesday (26), the spread of a low pressure area and a new cold front will cause rain throughout the state of Rio Grande do Sul, with a chance of storms and high accumulated volumes.

Expected rainfall totals are expected to range between 60 and 80 mm across the state. In Fronteira Oeste, Campanha and the Central region, the predicted values ​​should exceed 100 mm in most municipalities and could reach 125 mm in some locations.