Advances in wheat sowing in the southern region challenge climatic variations

The expectation now is that there will be no excessive rain during the final stages of grain growth, as moisture is a critical factor for wheat.

Concentrated primarily in the Southern Region of Brazil, wheat planting faces climatic challenges in several areas. In Rio Grande do Sul, for instance, the crop is projected to be one of the most promising in recent years, with an estimated production of 4,068,852 tons, a significant increase of 55.27% compared to the previous harvest, despite adverse weather conditions.

The state of Paraná, which leads wheat planting in the country, has already sown more than 91% of its area designated for cultivation. In Santa Catarina, sowing continues, favored by improved weather conditions in almost the entire Midwest region of the state, except in Campos Novos, where sowing is delayed.

Producers are now concerned about avoiding excessive rainfall during the final stages of grain growth, as moisture is a critical factor in wheat development. This condition can result in grains with high moisture content at harvest time and reduce the overall quality of the grain.

Excess moisture can also increase the incidence of fungal diseases such as Fusarium head blight and blast, which damage wheat quality and affect grain yield. Meanwhile, relative humidity can influence these variables both positively and negatively.

Therefore, careful management and monitoring of climatic conditions and grain moisture are essential to ensure wheat quality during its development.

“Meeting the quality standards required by the industry and trading companies is crucial, as excessive moisture and grain damage reduce the producer’s profits. The larger the volume of grain, the more efficient the planning of harvest and storage must be,” says agronomist Roney Smolareck from Loc Solution, the company that owns the Motomco brand of grain moisture meters.

According to him, all precautions must be taken to avoid problems with the grains. “If wheat is harvested with a moisture content above 13%, drying will be required to get a better price during commercialization, and that means higher costs,” emphasizes Smolareck.

“With the right equipment, it is possible to obtain a more accurate result on moisture content, bringing greater transparency in commercialization,” says Smolareck.

The moisture meters are certified by the National Institute of Metrology (Inmetro).