The South advances and the West Border delays rice planting

Rio Grande do Sul has already sown 18.19% of the rice area planned for the 2025/26 crop, practically the same percentage recorded last year, according to the latest survey by IRGA. Sergio Cardoso, operations director of Itaobi Representações, highlights that "the differences between the regions show how the climate, soil, and logistics of each location directly impact the producers' strategy, influencing the speed and rhythm of planting." The South Zone continues to lead the pace, with 64.7% of the area already covered, while the Western Border, which in the same period of 2024 recorded over 50%, shows only 3.7% progress. The Inland Coastal Plain also remains prominent, with 20.4% of the area sown, a result of the early soil preparation, adequate drainage, and the producers' experience in taking advantage of favorable climatic windows. In the South, the rapid progress is attributed to the drained soil and efficient planning, allowing the machinery to work continuously. In the ...