A group made up of different sectors of the canola agro-industrial complex visited crops in Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul, on August 28th and September 03rd. Despite the incidence of frost throughout the winter, the damage was localized and is not expected to compromise the canola harvest, estimated at almost 50 thousand tons.
In Paraná, the canola area has been shrinking since 2015, when it reached 7.900 hectares (CONAB). This harvest, the cultivation area is estimated at 900 hectares and, despite intense frosts in some places and drought throughout the development of the crop, the harvest is expected to exceed 1.500 kilos per hectare (kg/ha).
According to FAPA/Agrária researcher Juliano Almeida, the oscillation in terms of canola area and productivity over the years is great, but in the results of experiments, conducted more than 10 years ago in Paraná, it is possible to verify gains with canola in the crop rotation system. “Canola needs to be evaluated in the production system, considering the possible benefits for subsequent crops, with the potential for canola to add yield gains to soybeans and wheat, for example,” explains Juliano.
During the event called “Canola Technical Tour”, held on 28/08, the group also visited two producers, assisted by the agronomist from Cooperativa Agrária Rodrigo Ferreira. At Fazenda Lagoa Dourada, in Candói/PR, producer Roberto Sattler uses canola hybrids with an earlier cycle. Even with frost damage, the producer considers canola a good alternative for autumn cultivation. At Fazenda Juquiá, in Cantagalo/PR, André Milla and his son Felipe showed the importance of canola for conservation agriculture. A trench was opened in the soil with a great depth of canola roots, capable of preventing soil compaction and favoring subsequent crops.
In Rio Grande do Sul, where 92% of canola is grown, the Brazilian Association of Canola Producers (Abrascanola) organized a visit to the crops in a rally format on 03/09. In Santo Ângelo/RS, producer Pedro Cargnelutti presented the management adopted in the crop, with care in sowing scheduling to reduce the risk of losses due to frost.
Producer Jorge Dal Berto Rapachi also evaluates strategies to protect the 120 hectares of canola under cultivation in Giruá/RS. Even with the occurrence of three frost events in the area, the expectation is for a yield of 25 bags per hectare (1.500 kg/ha).
Despite the challenges, researcher Marcos Carrafa, from Setrem, in Três de Maio/RS, assesses the importance of canola in the production system: “Canola complements the production system, along with wheat, corn, soybeans. It is necessary to evaluate the rotation and not just the isolated crop”, explains the researcher who has been conducting experiments with canola in the northwest region of RS since 2002. “We cannot copy the technology, but adapt canola to each region, to each local reality”, concludes.
Regionalizing knowledge is Embrapa Trigo’s proposal. According to analyst Paulo Ernani Ferreira, it is necessary to encourage producers and technical assistance to conduct local experiments and disseminate the results. “There is a lot of knowledge being generated at the local level that needs to reach the producer. Only in Rio Grande do Sul can we identify three very distinct growing regions, with very varied climate, altitude, relief and soil characteristics. It is not possible to package the canola cultivation system without adaptations to regional particularities”, assesses Ferreira.
The canola area in Brazil this harvest is 35 thousand hectares (CONAB, Sep 2019), with an estimated production of 50 thousand tons.
According to the President of Abrascanola Vantuir Scarantti, despite some areas suffering damage due to frost, the majority of crops are developing well and the expectation is for an average productivity of 1.500 kilos per hectare. Harvesting is expected to begin in the next few days, and is expected to end in September. “The production cost was around 15 bags per hectare, which leaves canola as an interesting crop rotation and income option for the producer at this period of the year, since many contracts are already signed with companies even before the implementation of crops”, assesses Vantuir, highlighting that the Brazilian demand for edible oil requires the equivalent of 100 thousand hectares of canola. Thus, Abrascanola seeks to encourage producers to invest more in this crop to supply a greater part of national consumption and reduce the need for imports.
“As canola still has a small production chain, it was possible to bring together all segments and actors interested in the crop, with diversity to discuss economic, commercial and technological aspects during the meetings. The exchange of information is necessary to improve the production system by positioning canola in a way that brings income to the producer”, concludes Embrapa Trigo researcher, Jorge Gouvêa.
The series of visits to producers and research institutions was promoted by Abrascanola, with the support of Cooperativa Agraria Agroindustrial/FAPA, Advanta, Atlântica Sementes, Celena Alimentos, De Sangosse, Ihara, Produtiva and Embrapa.
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