Brazil: Weather contributed to high productivity in Rio Grande do Sul during the 2024/25 potato harvest.

Bom Jesus (RS) must complete, late, the harvest of 60% of the crop by the end of March, leaving 30% between April and May, and finishing the harvest only in June, with the remaining 10%. In typical years, 85% of the harvest is completed by the end of March, leaving only 10% for April, and finishing in May with 5%. The reason for the subsequent closure is an oversupply in the market, which makes it difficult to move production.

With high temperatures and dry weather, synchronization between the field and marketing becomes even more difficult, as the crop cycle accelerates, and the tuber loses even more quality if it takes longer to harvest. The situation is further complicated by the appearance of Alternaria solani (black spot) in some plots, given the stressful conditions for the plants, which ends up shortening the cycle even further. According to Bom Jesus producers, productivity this year reached record levels through February, exceeding 50 t/ha in some plots, as weather conditions between planting and harvest (September to November) were very favorable for production, with the potatoes planted and developing with good rainfall, higher temperatures during the day, and milder temperatures at night.

For areas harvested between March and April, which were cultivated from mid-November to December, lower yields are expected, but within the historical range of recent years (under normal production conditions), and should be around 35 t/ha. The drop in field yield is due to early blight, especially in potatoes grown from November onwards. Furthermore, the warmer climate, with narrower temperature ranges and low rainfall, impaired plant physiological development. Cinnamon-black and vaquinha also contributed to the drop in production. Despite this, this yield is still much higher than last year, which should average around 20 t/ha, when the region experienced frequent rainfall. In the Gaucha region, most of the seeds used for commercial production (table or industrial) are produced in the region itself and stored between harvests, but some producers produce seeds in Criciúma (SC) and Goiás.

This harvest, Bom Jesus increased its crop area by almost 15%, due to the positive potato prices of recent years. Next year, there could be a reduction in the cultivated area due to the loss of capital generated by the 2024/25 harvest.