The climate has been favorable for the corn harvest in Rio Grande do Sul. As the crop reaches the ideal point for harvesting, farmers harvest and implement new corn or soybean crops in this area. According to the Emater/RS-Ascar Economic Information, productivity varies greatly, as a result of irregular rainfall occurring during the crop cycle. In crops where water deficit occurred, productivity is less than 100 bags/ha. In well-managed crops and in which there was no lack of humidity, productivity is close to 10 thousand kg/ha and irrigated crops have been producing between 13 thousand and 15 thousand kg/ha. The area destined for silage production, at state level, already reaches 50% of the total planted for this purpose (371 thousand ha), reaching productivity of around 42 thousand tons of green mass.
The 1st crop bean harvest also evolves and approaches the 60% of Rio Grande do Sul crops. Even though productivity is variable, the average should be well above the initially predicted, which is 1,337kg/ha. Producers are selling the harvested beans, increasing supply on the market. In Campos de Cima da Serra, the areas are sown after the wheat harvest, intervening between the two harvests, even though it is considered within the first. In that region there was less rain and the high temperatures favored the vegetative development of the crops, which have a great visual appearance, with the expectation of excellent grain yield. The safrinha planting is underway, with good vegetative development, and the earliest crops are already flowering.
Soybeans evolve quickly to form pods and begin grain formation, with good development and low incidence of pests and diseases. Although the climatic conditions are favorable for the development of the crop, in places where rainfall was low, the plants show symptoms of water deficit. In the administrative region of Ijuí, despite little expression, the planting of soybeans in January and February in succession to corn represents 32% of the planned area implemented.
In rice, crops have progressed quite satisfactorily in recent days, with no water problems for irrigation and benefiting from the hot climate and good sunshine with a standard and production potential within expectations (around 7 thousand kg/ha). The current harvest already records the first harvested areas. These are crops planted very early (beginning of September) in the Taquari Valley, which represent less than 1% of the total sown. These have achieved marks (productivity) within expectations (between 7 and 8 thousand kg/ha), with good grain yield at the mill. It is worth noting that the percentage harvested is tiny and does not serve to establish parameters for all crops.
FRUITS
Grape – In the Vale do Taquari region, grapes are harvested from American varieties, or from the common group, such as Concord, Bordô, white and pink Niágaras. Due to frequent rains, there was good development of leaves, branches and berries, but unfavorable consequences for production, such as a higher incidence of fungal diseases and a reduction in the glucometric level, which corresponds to the amount of sugar in the grape. During the ripening period there was excess rainfall, which lasted for several days, resulting in losses in the quantity of fruit.
Fig – The harvest of green figs, whose main cultivated variety is Roxo de Valinhos, is underway in the Vale do Caí region and in the municipality of Poço das Antas, in the Taquari Valley. In Vale do Caí, figs are harvested green in most of the municipalities of Brochier, Maratá and São Pedro da Serra. The harvest is just beginning, with 15% of figs from the fields having been harvested. It's been a regular year for fig cultivation, as the crop requires a lot of water for its development. In this sense, the rains have contributed to culture. However, the few hours of sunlight favored the plant's etiolation and increased the spacing between the fruits. The expectation is that the good weather forecast will be confirmed and this situation will improve.
CREATIONS
With the sequence of rain and high temperatures in recent weeks in the South region, pastures have a good response in terms of growth rate. Producers who hayed clover and cornichão pastures are managing areas with the best productive potential with the aim of seed production. Perennial summer pastures (brachiarias, panicuns and tiftons) are also experiencing excellent development, as are annual summer pastures, which are used by animals.
Sheep farming – With the improvement of native fields, sows come into heat, which for many producers is a sign of a herd in good nutritional status. Hoof problems have been reduced, but care must be taken with parasites, especially worms, as the hot and humid climate provides ideal conditions for their development. In this sense, producers carry out strategic management to control sheep worms, with dosages according to the need or according to the body condition of the herd.
Shearing has ended and practically all of the wool has been sold. As the lambs are weaned, the sows gain weight for slaughtering in March and April. However, some herds are being slaughtered from mid-February onwards, mainly of the Merino and Ideal breeds.
Time for classifying flocks, selecting lambs for the next lambing and discarding old breeders or those with reproductive defects. It is also a time of summer fairs and sheep sales, such as the XXIII Feovelha, held at the end of January at the Charrua Exhibition Park, in Pinheiro Machado, considered the biggest event in Brazilian sheep farming, and is an excellent opportunity for sheep farmers to acquire animals of high genetic standards to improve their herds. Total revenue was R$ 570,165.00, with 1,405 animals sold, 50% less than 2016, with sales of R$ 854,425.00. The event was held with the support of Emater/RS-Ascar, which is also a partner in holding the Regional Crafts and Borregas Competition, which takes place on April 28th, in the municipality of Herval.
