Sowing onions for the 2025/26 cycle is nearly complete in southern Brazil. In Rio Grande do Sul, transplanting has surpassed 90% and is expected to conclude in the coming days. Sources in São José do Norte report that direct seeding has increased this season, though it still represents less than 5% of the total planted area. Harvest in the region is forecast to begin in the last week of October. Cloudy conditions and high humidity are raising concerns over crop development, with increased pesticide applications required in some areas.
In Santa Catarina, between 80% and 90% of transplants are completed. Direct seeding has also expanded, now accounting for over 35% of plantings, largely due to a shortage of rural labour. Despite a few rainy periods, precipitation levels are reported to be within normal ranges for this time of year in both Lebon Régis and the Ituporanga region. Farm investments are being approached more cautiously than in previous seasons, a trend linked to reduced credit lines from resellers. Many producers are purchasing inputs only as needed, rather than in bulk. Harvest in Ituporanga is expected to start in mid-November, with Lebon following in December.
In Paraná, the planted area has expanded, and growers have increased the use of early-maturing varieties to enable harvesting by the end of September, targeting a supply gap before the Santa Catarina crop reaches the market. Sowing has been completed in Guarapuava and is close to finishing in Irati, Ponta Grossa, and Curitiba.
Source: HF Brasil
